With opiate addiction on the rise, a growing number of people have come to search for information on treatment options, staying sober in the future, and much more.

The abuse of opiates – such as morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and heroin –is extremely dangerous. On the surface, this does not always appear to be the case. The reason for this is simple: these types of drugs are prescribed by medical professionals to treat pain. For this reason, it is easy to believe that the drugs cannot be that dangerous.

Before we discuss the finer details of opiate addiction treatment, let’s take a closer look at some of the statistics that prove the seriousness of this problem. Here is a passage shared by the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

“It is estimated that between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in 2012 and an estimated 467,000 addicted to heroin.”

These numbers should open your eyes to just how big of a problem this has become.

Treatment Facts

Behavioral counseling helps with opiate addiction.

While there is nothing good about an opiate addiction, it is important to understand one thing: treatment options do exist. If you or a loved one goes down this path, if you don’t know what to do next, it is imperative to consider one of the many treatment options that are currently available. Choosing the right strategy at the right time can help you overcome an addiction and regain control of your life.

Here are several facts associated with opiate addiction treatment:

• There is more than one option available for effectively treating opiate addiction. This is good news for anybody dealing with an addiction, as they should be able to find a strategy that puts them on the right path to a better future. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of opiate addiction include methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine.
• Behavioral counseling has been proven effective for opiate addiction. As important as it may be to deal with the physical side of addiction, it is also essential for people to focus on what this does to their brain. This is where behavioral counseling comes into play. With one on one and group therapy, people with an addiction can learn more about their problem, and most importantly, how to avoid relapse in the future.
• Treatment typically begins with detoxification. This is the process of withdrawing from the drug, both mentally and physically. There is nothing comfortable about detoxification, but it goes a long way in helping a person overcome his or her addiction. Even more important is the way that this helps prevent relapse.

Harvard Medical School touches on this subject in great detail, noting that detoxification may not be a solution on its own, but it is necessary for a variety of reasons, such as avoiding relapse.

Some of the symptoms associated with opiate detoxification include tremors, agitation, anxiety, muscle aches, nausea, hot and cold flashes, diarrhea, and vomiting.

It is not uncommon for a withdrawal reaction to last one week or longer. Fortunately, once this part of the treatment process comes to an end, the person is in good position to move forward and complete the rest of their rehabilitation.

• Support groups do exist. It doesn’t matter if you are currently battling an opiate addiction or are attempting to keep this out of your life forever, there are support groups that can help. For example, SMART Recovery and Narcotics Anonymous have been proven successful in the past. These groups make it simple for people to get the help they need, without being judged, to ensure that they give themselves the best chance of success.

Getting Started is Often the Hardest Part

Along with the four facts detailed above, there is something else you need to remember: getting started is often the hardest part of overcoming an opiate addiction. You know that you need to change your life. You realize that now is the time to do so. However, there is more to this than simply saying you will change.

Getting started means that you are ready to change your life forever. An opiate addiction may have controlled your mind and body for quite some time, but this doesn’t mean you have to remain on this path in the future. Once you understand the facts and figures, once you realize that treatment options exist, you can put yourself in position to overcome your addiction once and for all.

These clear and unbiased facts about opiate addiction treatment will allow you to approach this difficult time in the appropriate manner. In the end, what matters most is that you receive the treatment you need to beat this addiction and prevent it from causing trouble again.