An Opiate Addiction Treatment Program That Offers Aftercare And Follow
Addiction treatment programs should be flexible in the help they provide after treatment. It is easier for someone to adapt to a life of sobriety when they are under careful supervision during rehab than it is after they have left rehab. Will the rehab program allow the individual to return for counseling sessions if they need help?
Will there be any aftercare program that helps ease the individual back into everyday life? If the individual has a relapse and quickly regrets that decision and wants to get back onto their recovery path will the program make them start over from the beginning, or is there a way to continue building off the success they have already achieved?
Even though the hope is that your loved one will have a perfect recovery, and will not relapse or have any slip-ups, will they be able to get back on track or will the treatment program force them to take a big step backward? Opiate addiction treatment programs that have some form of aftercare, offer ongoing treatment, and work with at every stage of your recovery journey are very much needed if we are going to achieve our goal of long term recovery.
Our Goal: Long Term Opioid/Opiate Addiction Recovery
What is Needed to Achieve This Goal: 1.) Relapse Prevention2.) An Opioid Addiction Treatment Plan including Dual Diagnosis, Aftercare and Follow-Up Treatment Options
Changes In Appearance And Personality
One of the most obvious addiction symptoms is sudden or strange changes in behavior, appearance, and overall personality. A person who may normally be responsible, calm, and normal may suddenly act bazaar, dress weird, or do things completely out of character. They may suddenly develop an apathetic attitude toward school, work, or family.
How Is Naltrexone Used To Treat Addiction
This medicine is very different and doesnt activate the opioid receptor the way that buprenorphine and methadone do, but instead blocks the euphoric/sedative effects of opioids. Your system must be completely free of all opioids before beginning naltrexone. It can be taken orally or as a once-a-month injection.
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What Are The Signs That Youre Living With Someone Who Is Addicted To Pills
Different signs can indicate that a family member or friend struggling with a pill addiction. Some of the most common include:
- Tiredness or fatigue: Someone addicted to pills tend to get weak and weary easily. People who misuse prescription drugs sometimes look like theyre dizzy. They can get so tired that they start skipping activities they used to enjoy.
- Poor concentration: Due to the effect of the pills on the brain, the person may find it difficult to focus or feel motivated. As a result, they wont be able to function effectively at school or work. They may even start to miss school or be absent from work.
- Isolation: Someone suffering from pill addiction may like to stay in isolation, causing their relationships to suffer. They may prefer to spend more time with people who are also addicted to pills.
- Secretive behavior: If your loved one starts to act secretive and cover up their actions, it may be because of pill addiction and their desire to prevent you from discovering what they do to obtain pills or the money for them.
If you discover the signs of pill addiction in your loved one, what can you do help?
What Are The Signs Of Pain
Pain pill is a broad term used to describe medications that relieve pain. Over-the-counter pain pills, such as Tylenol, Advil and aspirin, are not addictive.
Most prescription pain pills are addictive. The most powerful prescription painkillers contain man-made drugs called opioids. Natural versions of the drugs those that have not been chemically altered in a lab, such as morphine and codeine are called opiates.
The phrases painkiller addiction and pain-pill addiction refer to opioid addiction.
Opioids and opiates interact with parts of the brain in charge of regulating pain. They also affect parts of the brain in charge of happiness and motivation. In some people, opioids manipulate these parts of the brain and cause addiction.
Addiction is a disease characterized by compulsive drug use despite negative consequences. The presence of one or two symptoms isnt enough to diagnose addiction. But the existence of multiple warning signs usually means a person has an addiction.
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S For Recovering From A Painkiller Addiction
If you are worried about your own or someone elses painkiller addiction, it is important for the person that is addicted to painkillers to visit their GP to talk through their concerns and worries. Your GP may refer you for expert treatment at Priory. In addition, while we prefer people to have a GP referral, this isnt essential and you can also contact Priory directly to discuss your needs and options for treatment.
At Priory, we have several types of treatment for prescription drug addiction. A programme will be put together based on a persons needs and the severity of their misuse, which may include:
- A free addictions assessment
Some Facts About Pain
- Most people don’t have to live with pain. There are pain treatments. While not all pain can be cured, most pain can be managed. If your doctor has not been able to help you, ask to see a pain specialist.
- The side effects from pain medicine are often manageable. Side effects from pain medicine like constipation, dry mouth, and drowsiness may be a problem when you first begin taking the medicine. These problems can often be treated and may go away as your body gets used to the medicine.
- Your doctor will not think you’re a sissy if you talk about your pain. If you’re in pain, tell your doctor so you can get help.
- If you use pain medicine now, it will still work when you need it later. Using medicine at the first sign of pain may help control your pain later.
- Pain is not “all in your head.” No one but you knows how your pain feels. If you’re in pain, talk with your doctor.
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Medications For Opioid Addiction Include:
- Available as dissolving tablet, cheek film, extended-release injection, or 6-month implant under the skin.
- Can be prescribed by a doctor for use outside of a clinic.
- Can only be used in a certified opioid treatment program setting.
- Can be prescribed by any clinician who can legally prescribe medication.
- Only used for people who have not used opioids for at least 710 days.
Talk with a doctor to find out what types of treatments are available in your area and what options are best for you and/or your loved one. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease be sure to ask your doctor about the risk of relapse and overdose.
If you notice that someone may be struggling with opioid addiction:
Talk To Someone About Your Worries
It can be useful to open up to someone about this. This might be a family member or a friend you trust. If youre very close to the person, the chances are theyve already spotted some of the signs that youre addicted to painkillers and will want to help you beat it.
Talk to them openly and honestly about your worries and let them know how they can help you moving forwards. They may offer to call your GP on your behalf and go to an appointment with you as moral support, or they can help to distract you when youre having cravings. Just having someone on your side can help massively in the early stages of recovery. Remember, its often the case that a problem shared is a problem halved.
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Understanding Your Loved Ones Substance Abuse
People start using drugs for a lot of different reasons. Many turn to substances to cope with the emotional pain of a mental health problem, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Known as self-medicating, some people may be aware they have a mental health issue but are unable to find healthier ways of coping, while others remain undiagnosed and use drugs to manage specific symptoms.
Other people turn to drugs to change how they feel, to fit in, or to alleviate boredom or dissatisfaction with their lives. Then there are those whose substance abuse develops from a doctors well-intentioned efforts to treat a medical condition. Of all the people prescribed opioids to relieve pain, for example, estimates suggest that more than a quarter will end up misusing the drug.
Whatever your loved ones reason for starting, though, not everyone who uses drugs develops a problem. While the exact causes of addiction arent clear, genetics likely plays a role, along with environmental factors. While one person is able to use substances without detrimental effects, another finds even casual use quickly escalates into compulsion and addictiona very dark hole from which they can feel powerless to emerge.
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Successful Opioid/opiate Addiction Treatment
Now we have our goal of long term opiate addiction recovery, and we know that an addiction treatment program will have to utilize relapse prevention education, if we are to achieve that goal. What else does the addiction treatment program need to include to bring us to our goal? There are a few other consideration we need to look at in order to select the best treatment program for opiate addiction:
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Opioid/opiate Addiction Treatment Planning And Case Management
Family First Intervention puts a focus on helping family and friends of addicts create and implement an addiction treatment plan, just like the example above. Our family case management services put together a successful treatment strategy with a clear goal in mind. Starting with a call to our certified interventionists, we assess your familys needs for treatment planning, and we work closely with loved ones to create a clear path to the ultimate goal of long-term addiction recovery.
You as a family member, friend, spouse, or loved one of an addict know the goal clearly. You want the person that you care for to be able to achieve recovery, and stay sober. Getting to that goal is much more complicated, and families really do need the help of professionals to ensure that there is a clear and stable long term treatment plan.
Signs Someone Is Addicted To Their Pain Medication
Pain medications prescribed by a doctor can be beneficial to help in the beginning part of recovery from a severe injury or major surgery however, they should be taken with caution and under tight supervision. Using the proper amount as prescribed by your doctor and discontinuing use as soon as you can are critical if you want to avoid developing an unhealthy painkiller addiction.
Unfortunately, every year many people become addicted to their pain killers and begin down a road of dependency that is hard to leave behind. If you live in a household or good friend with someone who is currently taking prescription pain killers, these are a few warning signs that could indicate they are developing an addiction or dependency on their drugs.
The first thing you can monitor is how many pain pills a person is consuming. Even if your friend or family member is receiving legitimate prescriptions from their doctor, if they begin to consume the pills at a rate faster than is recommended on the label, there is immediate cause for concern if you notice that the person has to call their doctor for a refill before the appropriate time, which could be a sign that they were not following the recommended dosage amounts.
If your friend or family member is singularly focused on making sure that they fill their prescription as soon as they can, this can also be a sign of prescription drug abuse.
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How To Spot Signs Of Opioid Addiction
Doctors use an 11-point checklist to help determine if a persons opioid use signals a deeper problem. Heres what they look for.
It isnt always easy to tell if a person has an addiction to opioids.
But any strange habits or suspicions should be taken seriously, says Jonathan D. Morrow, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan.
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If youre using more and more of a drug, yet your daily functioning is getting worse instead of better, thats a sign of addiction, Morrow says. If youre using for a longer time than prescribed, thats a warning sign. If youre using it for reasons other than prescribed for example, because youre depressed or anxious or bored, that puts you at really high risk.
Whether an opioid was obtained legally or not, taking it isnt supposed to be satisfying.
If you use opioids for the intended purpose, you ideally should get no high, Morrow says. You get lots of side effects such as nausea and constipation. Its really not pleasant.
Its once you go beyond the amount you need for pain control that you start getting a high.
Opioids cause the brain to release dopamine, which triggers a desire to repeat the drug-taking experience. Taken for too long or in high amounts, they can be highly addictive.
Morrow spoke about the checklist and how it is applied.
Can Opioids Be Taken Responsibly
Opioids are an effective painkiller and should be used appropriately, and to do so, the patient needs to take a level or responsibility for their medical care. If you are going to have a medical procedure, you should have a conversation with your physician about pain control.
Ask questions like:
- You are prescribing me this many tablets. Do I really need these?
- What is your strategy for pain control?
- What options do I have other than an opioid to help control my pain?
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Medicines To Treat Pain
Your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following pain medications. Talk with your doctor about their safety and the right dose to take.
- Acetaminophen may help all types of pain, especially mild to moderate pain. Acetaminophen is found in over-the-counter and prescription medicines. People who have more than three drinks per day or who have liver disease should not take acetaminophen.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. Long-term use of some NSAIDs can cause side effects, like internal bleeding or kidney problems, which make them unsafe for many older adults. You may not be able to take ibuprofen if you have high blood pressure.
- Narcotics are used for moderate to severe pain and require a doctor’s prescription. They may be habit-forming. They can also be dangerous when taken with alcohol or certain other drugs. Examples of narcotics are codeine, morphine, and oxycodone.
- Other medications are sometimes used to treat pain. These include antidepressants, anticonvulsive medicines, local painkillers like nerve blocks or patches, and ointments and creams.
As people age, they are at risk for developing more side effects from medications. It’s important to take exactly the amount of pain medicine your doctor prescribes. Don’t chew or crush your pills if they are supposed to be swallowed whole. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having trouble swallowing your pills.
How Pain Pills Work
Prescription opioids interact with opioid receptors in the brain, intercepting and warding off pain sensations. They also slow down heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rates, inducing a sense of relaxation. Most prescription opioid drugs are classified as Schedule II controlled substances by the Drug Enforcement Administration . Even though they do have accepted medical use, they also have a high potential for diversion, misuse, and dependence.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that about 54 million Americans have misused a prescription drug at least once in their lives. At the time of the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health , approximately 4.3 million American adults were considered to be currently abusing prescription painkillers.
Taking these drugs, even as directed, can lead to physical and psychological dependence, as the brain gets used to the chemical changes incurred by their interference. When an opioid drug enters the brain, fills an opioid receptor, and depresses the central nervous system, it also increases the presence of dopamine and endorphins. Dopamine is one of the brains chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, that signals feelings of pleasure. With repeated chemical interference, the brain may stop making and absorbing dopamine naturally, and brain chemistry may be negatively impacted. This is called drug dependence. When an opioid drug wears off, dopamine levels dip and both physical and emotional discomfort can occur.
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Getting Treatment And Starting Recovery
If you or a loved one would like to get treatment and start recovery from Percocet addiction, there are several options available.
Many people begin their recovery with a period of medically supervised detox and then transition to some type of formal treatment program as the risk of relapse for opioids is high. 1 Following a similar course of treatment can help reduce the unpleasant withdrawal experience, increasing the chances of successful detox and solidifying an individuals commitment to long-term recovery.
In a medically supervised detox, staff members will monitor the severity of your withdrawal symptoms and will be able to provide medical and therapeutic relief of those symptoms. Detox can last up to a week and will depend on the length of time you or your loved one took Percocet, the dosage at the time of cessation, and other factors such as age and pre-existing liver and kidney conditions. 3
Other factors to consider when choosing a treatment program include:
Medication-Assisted Treatment
- Clonidine is sometimes used to treat withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and some of the more flu-like symptoms, but it does not help with cravings. 2
- Diarrhea.
- Muscle aches. 1,2,3,4
These symptoms will usually begin within 6-12 hours after the last dose of Percocet, peak within 1-3 days, and gradually subside within a week. 4
