As always, your information will not be sold or shared with anyone. See our privacy policy for more information.
As always, your information will not be sold or shared with anyone. See our privacy policy for more information.
The goal of opioid dependence treatment is to enable individuals to manage their condition and gain control of their dependence. The important thing to keep in mind is that there are a number of choices for treatment, some involving medication and some not.
Each person's case is different. Your treatment team—which may include a doctor and a counselor—should work with you to create a treatment plan that is right for you. Many patients and their team find that a combination of drug therapy and counseling works best.
Counseling is recommended to anyone who is dependent on opioids. There are many types of counseling, including therapy sessions (either private or group) conducted by medical professionals trained in substance abuse. Working with a counselor/therapist or listening to other people who share your concerns may help you understand why you became dependent. It can also help you recognize the situations, feelings, or events that may "trigger" a desire to misuse opioids. Identifying these triggers in yourself and your environment—and learning new coping skills—can help you to avoid triggers or to manage them as they happen.
Many patients find group therapy particularly effective for treating opioid dependence because it provides a support network that they would otherwise lack. Other benefits of group therapy include:
Not everyone thrives in a group-counseling situation. Sometimes a patient and doctor may decide that needs would be better met in the privacy of a one-on-one setting.
Private sessions with a psychiatrist are recommended for patients being treated for depression, anxiety, or other mental health diseases that may be contributing to their opioid use.
Opioid dependence is a medical condition, and there are medicines that can help. By suppressing withdrawal symptoms and decreasing cravings, medicine can be an important part of therapy and help you stay in treatment. In many cases, treatment with these drugs works best when it's combined with counseling.
Learn about a treatment option available in the privacy of a physician's office.
Since 1972, methadone has been the primary medicine used to help people recover from dependence on heroin or prescription painkillers. Methadone is an opioid that helps reduce cravings and withdrawal by attaching to the same brain receptors for opioids, such as heroin or prescription painkillers. Therapy with methadone lowers the risk that the patient may begin abusing opioids again by suppressing withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone has helped many patients successfully manage their dependence. Patients may stay on methadone for several months to a few years. Some people benefit from lifelong treatment.
Individuals being treated with methadone usually visit a special clinic on a daily basis to receive their medication. For more information on methadone treatment programs, please visit www.aatod.org
Once you have a plan in place, there are ways you can work with your treatment team to make sure your treatment goes as smoothly as possible:
Patients and their treatment team may decide that a hospital is the best solution for a while. There are many types of hospital services for people with substance abuse, ranging from in-patient stays with intense medical monitoring and treatment to outpatient counseling programs they can attend while living at home.
At residential treatment centers, patients leave their everyday lives for a period of time, living with other patients in a center that is set up to help them manage their opioid dependence. Typically residential centers offer training, education, and intensive counseling to help patients rebuild a drug-free life. Depending on their needs and the center, patients might stay anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year.
Treating your medical condition can help you gain control over your dependence—so you can spend more time and energy on the things you value most in life. During your treatment, you may learn to identify your potential for relapse and develop skills to manage these challenging times. When you're aware of which situations might make you want to use opioids again, you'll be better able to avoid those situations, control your response to these "triggers," and seek support from a friend, family member, counselor, or doctor. Some common "triggers" to use opioids again are:
Remember, you are not alone on this journey. We strongly encourage you to seek out professionals trained in substance abuse treatment. Because working with them will help you learn the skills you need to effectively manage your "triggers," change your behavior, and keep you on track for getting your life back.
Participation in a support group is recommended as something patients may want to do in addition to their regular counseling. Support groups offer many of the same benefits as group therapy except that they're generally focused more on accepting and encouraging patients in treatment (and less on abstinence strategies).
Self-help "12-step" programs are very popular, and most are modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous. The idea is that people who suffer from a similar problem understand and can help one another. By coming together to share experiences at regular meetings, people who are in recovery can guide others out of opioid dependence through a structured 12-step program. Many people have successfully used these programs to achieve drug-free lives.
12-step programs can help you understand why you became dependent and give you strategies and emotional tools to help change your behavior. Just as importantly, you'll meet a group of people who understand what you're going through and can give you support when you need it. One-on-one private counseling can also be successfully combined with a 12-step program.
Deciding whether to tell someone else about your dependence and treatment is an individual decision. Sometimes, talking to other people can be helpful, since people who know about your treatment may be able to provide support when you need it. If you decide to tell someone, here are some tips:
