When you are addicted to opiates, you might feel as if you have no way out. With the killer withdrawal and the constant cravings, it sometimes seems that the addiction will never end. Fortunately, there are several opiate treatment options to choose from. Remember not every treatment option works for everyone. To find a treatment center that works for you, call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? .
Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment
Your first choice when it comes to opiate addiction treatment is whether you want inpatient or outpatient treatment. Each of the different treatments on this list are available in either form.
Inpatient treatment takes place in a residential treatment where you live and everything is provided for you. Outpatient treatment involves going to a variety of appointments at a treatment center, but you go home after each.
Tapering
Tapering is usually the first type of opiate addiction treatment offered to those addicted to opiate medications. During tapering, a doctor slowly reduces the amount of medication over a period of weeks or months—depending on the severity of the addiction.
Although this is a good method for those who are disciplined, it does not work well for those who have strong cravings or a severe addiction. Many people fail at this type of treatment.
Cold Turkey Withdrawal
Cold turkey withdrawal is difficult if you don’t have a strong support system.
Cold turkey withdrawal is stopping your opiate use abruptly without medical treatment. This is one of the most difficult types of treatment. You need to have a very strong support system, such as a 12 step group, already in place before you attempt it.
Behavioral Therapy with Supplemental Medication
Behavioral therapy with supplemental medication is exactly what it sounds like. You have the opportunity to go through counseling with the support of medicines that treat the individual symptoms. This means the supplemental medication is a nonopioid medication designed to treat the individual symptoms rather than withdrawal as a whole.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, common types of therapy are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Multidimensional family therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Motivational enhancement therapy
- Motivational incentives
- Contingency management
Each type of therapy can take place in an individual or group setting—depending on your preferences.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment is one of the most popular types of treatment. Doctors prescribe a medication specifically approved to treat or stop the withdrawal symptoms. You undergo behavioral therapy while taking it.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, these medications are:
They then allow you to taper off the medication without experiencing withdrawal. They might also prescribe Naltrexone after you go through withdrawal to keep you from going back to opiates once you stop. Naltrexone makes you very ill if you try to take opiates while on it.
Exactly Why You Should Seek Treatment For Your Opiate Addiction Today!
Medication Management
During medication management or medication maintenance treatment, you undergo a similar type of treatment as you do with medication-assisted treatment with one exception. Instead of tapering off the medication, you continue on it indefinitely. This method is excellent for treatment of chronic pain disorders such as:
- Chronic back pain
- Chronic joint pain
- Severe or serious lasting injury
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
These conditions do not go away just because you no longer are addicted to an opiate; you will still need something to treat pain.
No one treatment works for everyone. Whichever one of the opiate treatment options you choose should depend on your needs and desires for treatment. For help finding the right treatment and treatment center for you, call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? .
