effectiveness of methadone

How Effective is a Methadone Maintenance Program?

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If you have done research on the current state of our country’s nationwide opioid epidemic, you have very likely heard about methadone maintenance. Methadone maintenance treatment usually brings about a wide range of opinions, but these are very rarely rooted in fact.

If you aren’t sure how you feel about methadone maintenance treatment programs or if you would just like to do a little more research, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about the effectiveness of methadone maintenance and what it can do for opiate addiction.

How Does it Work?

Methadone is a medicine that doctors use to treat opiate addiction and to relieve pain. It works to block the receptors in the brain that opioids affect.

Methadone maintenance treatments reduce or completely eliminate the drug cravings and the harsh withdrawal symptoms of withdrawal, which are usually triggers for a relapse. However, they do not create the same euphoria that opiate abuse does.

Methadone lasts between 24 and 36 hours and most patients benefit from a daily dose.

Medical professionals offer methadone in pill, liquid, and wafer forms. And as with medical treatments for virtually all disorders, methadone is to be prescribed as one part of a while treatment plan that includes counseling and social support programs.

Fact vs. Falsehood

First things first, methadone isn’t good and it isn’t evil. It is simply a proven method for treating opiate addiction. It’s not going to solve an addict’s problems overnight, but it could provide them with the peace and stability that they need to put their life back together.

It’s common to hear people say that methadone maintenance is just trading one addiction for another. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Methadone allows an addict to become stable. They are trading their addiction to a dangerous opiate for a medical dependence on a supervised and safe drug. Do we call diabetics addicted to insulin? Are asthmatics addicted to their inhaler?

Absolutely not.

While an addict is in methadone maintenance treatment, they need to take methadone at regular intervals in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, the same way diabetics need their insulin. However, they don’t have the compulsive thoughts and behaviors associated with addiction.

When a person is addicted to heroin, that drug defined their lives and virtually ended their ability to make positive decisions. Methadone puts them back in control.

Is Methadone Maintenance Effective?

People who use long-term methadone maintenance have better outcomes than people who only use it for short periods of time. The recommended minimum for the best outcome is at least one year.

People who take higher doses of methadone actually tend to stay in treatment for longer periods of time than those who only take the minimum. They also tend to have better outcomes.

A recent study compared the treatment outcomes of people on 40 mg of methadone per day to those who took 75 mg per day. This study found that the people on high doses of methadone had significantly higher treatment retention, double that of what those who took 40 mg a day.

That said, every addict has a unique dosing need. Everyone metabolizes methadone differently, and every dosage should be decided by a medical professional.

If someone stays on methadone for more than two weeks, they have an 80% chance of staying on that treatment program for longer than six months. Also, studies show that methadone treatment has a massive impact on illicit opiate use, dangerous behavior, HIV transmission, and criminal activity.

With Suboxone and Subutex, an addict will experience a cap to their relief. However, on methadone, even heavy heroin addicts can get complete relief from their withdrawal symptoms.

Also, methadone won’t cause harm to major organs even with prolonged use.

And perhaps the most stunning statistic of all, people who are in a methadone maintenance treatment program have 30% of the mortality rate as those who use opiates without methadone.

Methadone Isn’t an Overnight Solution

Methadone is sometimes used as a short-term detox method, it’s actually best used when treated as a long-term maintenance medication for opiate addiction.

Methadone withdrawal is unspeakably hard, only people who have dealt with it can really understand the scope. But methadone works to keep a recovering addict stable and free from pain and cravings as they try to get their life back together.

Most people do start to feel stronger and ready to wean off of the medication, however, some people continue to use it as a long-term solution, even for life. It’s not a quick fix, but it does work.

Methadone Safety

Methadone can be addictive, so the addict must use it as prescribed. Methadone is specifically designed for each individual person and shouldn’t ever be shared with anyone else. An addict should share their total health history with their doctors to make sure they are receiving a healthy dose of the medication.

There are some medications that interact with methadone and can cause heart conditions. Even after methadone wears off, the active ingredient will remain in the body for a long time. Taking more methadone will result in an overdose.

A patient shouldn’t ever use more than prescribed and never consume any alcohol while taking the medication.

Is a Methadone Maintenance Program Effective?

Every addict and addiction is unique. A methadone maintenance program might not be the right answer for you or your loved one at this time.

But when an opiate addict is ready, it is a beneficial tool that can keep them clean. It isn’t a solution that is designed the work overnight and it isn’t without its flaws. But it is our best tool for fighting back against the opiate epidemic.

If you or a loved one is dealing with addiction, don’t wait to get help. Contact us at (855) 976-2092 or check out our blog for resources on methadone treatment and opiate addiction.

Sources

[1] SAMHSA. (2018, 1). Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma16-4892pg.pdf

[2] Moderate- vs High-Dose Methadone in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence. (1999, March 17). Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/189103

[3] Methadone maintenance treatment – Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings – NCBI Bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310658/

[4] Opiate-addicted Parents in Methadone Treatment: Long-term Recovery, Health and Family Relationships. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3025601/

 

effects of heroin

The Long-Term Effects of Heroin Abuse

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Do you know how to recognize the long-term symptoms of heroin abuse?

Heroin addiction may not look like what you would expect. When you understand the signs of heroin use, you can take action to help a friend, family member, or another loved one who may be in trouble. But if you don’t know what to look for, you might find out too late.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about what heroin abuse looks like, so you can take action when you need to. Keep reading to learn more.

How Heroin Abuse Starts

Heroin is an incredibly strong opiate narcotic that provides a fast, intense high, making it one of the most abused drugs in the world.

Morphine an opiate that occurs naturally, is used to make heroin. When heroin is used, it creates a sense of rushing pleasure and well-being in the user. The high wears off in just a few hours, but the user will actively desire the feeling again and again. This desire quickly becomes an addiction.

Heroin is often bought as a street drug, making it even more dangerous, as sellers often mix it with other things to cut costs. The heroin might be “cut” with nontoxic things like baby powder or cornstarch. Other times, it’s cut with more dangerous materials like quinine or arsenic.

Buyers have no way of knowing what the heroin they get off the street has in it, which makes it dangerous every time they use it. There are quite a few ways to use heroin. Although injection might be the most well-known form of consumption, people can also smoke heroin or snort it.

The drug hits the brain at a different speed, depending on how it’s taken. Injecting puts the heroin directly into the bloodstream, creating a faster, harder-hitting high, which is why it’s such a popular method of consumption.

Heroin Tolerance

With regular use, heroin addicts develop a tolerance to the drug. They’ll start to need more and more of it to feel the same high as they felt before. This can quickly lead to an addict turning their life upside down just to get more heroin. They’ll devote all their energy, time, and money to chasing the next high.

That’s why heroin addiction is so devastating. It can ruin careers, families, and futures. Addiction to heroin is a disease with many serious long-term effects, but it often starts out with small steps. However, no matter what stage of addiction an addict is in, professional treatment can help them overcome it.

Let’s take a closer look at the effects of heroin abuse over time, so you can learn to recognize the danger every step of the way.

Heroin’s Short-Term Effects

Heroin makes users feel a rush of pleasurable feeling by connecting with the body’s natural opioid receptors. This creates a chemical reaction that leads to the release of dopamine, one type of the many neurotransmitters in the brain and addiction is in fact linked.

Dopamine is a molecule that controls pleasurable feelings or the sense of reward in the brain. This reward system is what sparks the addiction since the brain is hardwired to seek out these rewards again and again. The user will continue to repeat the behavior that releases the dopamine, even when that behavior is self-destructive.

The short-term effects of heroin vary somewhat depending on how the user takes it. The most common short-term effects include:

  • The euphoric feeling of a “rush”
  • A flushed, warm feeling during this rush
  • A heavy, sinking feeling of the extremities
  • Pain reduction
  • Sleepiness and sedation
  • Lethargy

The most pleasurable part of the rush only lasts for a few minutes, but the sense of sedation lasts for a couple of hours. Every effect lasts longer or shorter depending on how pure the drug was, how much was taken, and how it was consumed.

While high on heroin, users often cycle between wakefulness and sleep, which is called “the nod.” As mentioned above, the more a user takes heroin, the less “high” they get, so they have to keep upping the dose to get the same sensations. As the tolerance builds, this can eventually lead to an overdose.

Heroin Side Effects

Many negative side effects begin to occur with regular heroin use. Most of these effects are due to the body’s natural adaptation methods. When a user takes heroin on a regular basis, their body has to cope by getting used to being high.

Common heroin side effects may include:

  • Nausea
  • Confusion
  • Grogginess
  • Itchiness
  • Dry mouth
  • Lowered body temperature
  • Slowed heart rate

No matter where a user is on their path towards addiction, overdose and death are also side effects that always pose a risk. Because heroin is a street drug, its purity levels vary, and it’s impossible to tell what an appropriate dose will be.

The side effects can also be worsened by combined heroin with other drugs. Depressants like sedatives and alcohol compound effects like the slowed heart rate and lowered body temperature. This combination of effects can also be dangerous. The breathing may become dangerously slow, cutting off the oxygen supply to the brain.

Heroin Long-Term Effects

Over time, the damage that heroin does to the body builds up.

A few long-term effects of heroin abuse include:

  • Damaged teeth and swollen gums
  • Damaged skin from scratching
  • Lowered immune system response
  • Malnutrition and appetite loss
  • A decrease in sexual function

In addition to these effects, heroin also leads to irreversible kidney and liver damage, and brain damage from the lack of oxygen. Regular users may develop complications like abscesses, heart valve infections, and bacterial infections.

When people use heroin during pregnancy, the baby may be born with an addiction, too. The effects of heroin are long-lasting, far-reaching, and can severely damage a person’s quality of life.

Stopping Heroin Abuse in Its Tracks

When heroin abuse begins, professional intervention is the only certain way to stop it before it destroys your life. With treatment, many addicts are able to make full recoveries and go on to lead healthy, positive lives.

To learn more about whether methadone treatment is right for you or someone you know, check out this post to see the facts about methadone.

If you or someone you love is struggling with heroin addiction and want to find options for methadone treatment near you, give us a call at (855) 976- 2092.

Sources

[1] Morphine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (2019, January 29). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682133.html

[2] DrugAbuse.Gov. (2018). Neurotransmitter Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/worksheetsmod1_69.pdf

 

someone you love is addicted

How to Help an Addict Recover

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When someone you love deals with drug or alcohol abuse, you watch them struggle with mental health issues and physical problems, both short- and long-term. In addition to their own pain, they can cause you and the other people they love to suffer as well.

It can often be so hard to know the right way to help an addict. So often the things we do seem to hurt them, no matter how you look at it.

If someone you love is dealing with addiction, it’s important to understand the signs of substance abuse issues and how to help an addict. But it’s also important to take care of yourself.

Read on to learn more about how to help an addict.

The Signs and Symptoms

When someone is struggling with an addiction, many of their symptoms are internal. Unfortunately, this means you probably won’t see the worst of it. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to watch out for.

Here are some of the external symptoms to look for if you suspect a loved one is dealing with addiction:

  • Appearing intoxicated more frequently
  • Developing cognition and memory issues
  • Lethargy, sleeping more, sleeping at strange times, or appearing tired all the time
  • Only attending events if alcohol is involved
  • Stealing to pay for drugs
  • Lying about how much they are using
  • Becoming angry or sad when questioned about substance use
  • Going through withdrawal
  • Poor hygiene

Substance abusers usually act much different when they are using. They are more apt to say and do hurtful things and take increasingly more dangerous risks with their life. There is nothing more hurtful about having a loved one who is suffering from addiction than watching them degrade and value themselves less and less.

Control or Influence?

At some point, you might try to force your loved one to get help. You have the best of intentions, all you want to do is see them get well. However, even if they do agree, they are much more likely to fail in this attempt to overcome addiction.

Addiction isn’t a choice that someone can control. It’s a compulsion. They aren’t able to stop without help. This is because they have required the risk and reward centers of their brains by constantly reinforcing their cravings.

If you try to blame them or protect them from their consequences, it’s not going to help them. This is because you don’t have control and either do they. Their addiction does.

However, you do hold a lot of influence in their lives. If you can gather a group of loved ones to stage an intervention the right way, you can show how much you love the addict while also setting boundaries around their addictive behaviors. Make sure that any attempt at intervention is centered around helping the addict and it’s thoroughly planned out.

Even if you can’t hold an intervention, just sit the addict down and talk to them about your concerns in a calm, clear way. Offer them help with your social support, information on drug rehab programs, and other ways that they can get healthy. Even something as simple as this can help someone suffering from addiction seek help.

Stop Being Codependent

If you are in a close personal relationship with an addict, you are likely being an enabler in a codependent relationship. Codependency involves your desire to help the person and show love, but a lot of the time this “help” is actually just fueling the addiction and causing more damage in the long-term.

  • Some signs that you are in a codependent relationship include:
  • Taking responsibility for the addict
  • Putting the addict’s feelings first
  • Holding onto the relationship with the addict in order to avoid feeling abandoned
  • Trouble talking about your feelings
  • Inability to set personal boundaries

Even if when you started your relationship with your loved one during a healthy time in both of your lives, codependency can happen when one person starts to struggle with addiction. Both of you should seek help to overcome these issues because help is required to heal your relationship properly.

How to Help an Addict

The best way that you can help someone suffering from addiction might actually sound counterintuitive. This is doubly true if you are codependent.

Here are a few basic steps to helping an addict:

  • Remember that addiction is a disease, not a choice
  • No one can fight addiction except the addict
  • Set boundaries and stand by them
  • Encourage help seeking
  • Find a therapist and get yourself help
  • Give up your own recreational substance use
  • Be supportive but let them deal with the consequences of their addiction
  • Be optimistic

Some of these methods might seem harsh, but it all stems from a loving approach. Your end goal should be to help the addict overcome addiction without breaking yourself down in the process.

Drug Abuse Relapse

When someone tries to get help for an addiction, they will most likely eventually overcome it with professional help. However, relapse can feel like a monster looming in the distance, creating stress for everyone involved.

Addiction is a disease. Think about diabetes or asthma. Treatment works for a period of time, then the disease worsens. This doesn’t mean a diabetic should give up insulin or an asthmatic should give up their inhaler. Instead, it means that they go to the doctor and start a new regimen.

Addiction is the same. An addict constantly works towards avoiding addiction, but if it happens they go back to treatment. Relapse is only a monster in the dark if the addict refuses to get back into treatment to get help.

Get Addiction Help

Your job as someone who loves an addict is to take care of yourself before you take care of anyone else. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you cant provide support when you are completely overwhelmed yourself. Then, you need to support the addict by understanding their addiction and creating boundaries. Remember, you can’t fight this for them.

If you or a loved one is dealing with an addiction, don’t wait. Seek help today. You can find resources for treating addiction with methadone on our blog.

We’ve got a wealth of information on detox, methadone, and opioid addiction. Check out our articles or contact us at (855) 976-2092 to find help in your home state.

Sources

[1] What You Learn From Loving An Addict. (2017, December 7). Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-you-learn-from-lovin_n_8112240?ec_carp=1236604536221921249

[2] Co-Dependency. (2016, December 8). Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/co-dependency

[3] NIDA. (2015, July 29). Addiction Science. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/addiction-science on 2019, April 25

Physical effects of methadone use

The Effects of Methadone on the Body

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In the US, the government is always battling with opioid overdose crisis. So, how many die from opioids each year? According to NIDA, about 130 people die every day due to this problem.

That’s serious, right?

The misuse of opioids affects the public health and economic welfare of the country. One of the opiates that people commonly misuse is methadone. This drug is available in different brands, including Methadose, Diskets, and Dolophine.

It’s used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Doctors can also prescribe it to treat narcotic addiction.

Sadly, some patients misuse their methadone prescription for a variety of reasons. This affects them and their health in different ways. For that reason. This post is going to cover the possible effects of methadone.

What’s Methadone?

Methadone is prescription medication use in the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program to help patients with opiate addiction. The dose usually starts at 10 or 20 mg and adjusted in 10-mg increments.

German doctors created this medication during World War II. When it finally arrived in the US, doctors used it to treat patients with severe pain. Today, patients can use it to manage addiction to heroin and narcotic painkillers.

When taken as prescribed by your doctor, use of methadone medication is safe and effective. For patients with addiction, it works effectively if used together with comprehensive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program, which includes social support and counseling.

How Does it Work?

Doctors say this drug works like morphine, but its effects of methadone on the body are slower. Patients can take it as a tablet, powder or liquid.

It works by changing how the brain and nervous system respond to pain. This makes you feel relief. Methadone blocks the euphoric effects of opiate drugs, such as codeine and heroin. It also lessens the withdrawal symptoms of opiate.

The pain relief from this drug lasts for about eight to 12 hours. Studies have shown that methadone is effective in higher doses, particularly for those patients with heroin addiction.

How Patients Misuse Methadone

Methadone is an effective treatment for suppressing cravings and reducing pain. That’s the factor that makes it risky. This makes it an agonist.

First, it’s has a long-term treatment period, usually a year or more. This makes it easier for patients to become dependent on it. Its highly addictive nature makes patients ignore other treatment options in favor of it.

Some people take it illegally. For example, some HIV patients can inject it into their body.

What Are the Effects of Methadone?

The effects are wide and varied as they depend on the individual’s body.

Those who are taking methadone as a prescription can experience side-effects, especially during the first phase of their methadone treatment.

  • Constipation
  • Vomiting
  • Lightheadedness
  • Irregular sweating
  • Dry mouth
  • Dependency
  • Fluctuating weight
  • Sleep problems
  • Cognitive changes
  • Harmful drug interactions
  • Fatigue

It is also important to note that these side-effects are less likely if methadone is taken as prescribed – at a therapeutic dose.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reaction to methadone is rare. However, patients are encouraged to see a doctor if they experience symptoms of allergy such as:

  • Rash
  • Itching and swelling
  • Severe dizziness
  • Trouble breathing

If you notice any of these symptoms in your loved one, be sure to get medical attention.

Drug Interactions

You’re likely to experience certain effects of the medicine and possibly even methadone interactions with other drugs. During your medical appointment, your doctor will want to know all the drugs (prescription and non-prescription) and supplements you are currently using.

Interactions can change the action of one or both drugs. Common symptoms include drowsiness and stomach aches.

Effects of an Overdose

Some patients may take more of their medication to get quicker results or maintain the relief the medication offers. This could result in an overdose. When you overdose, the possible symptoms include:

  • Twitching muscles
  • Cyanosis (bluish fingernails and lips)
  • Coma
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Low blood pressure
  • Difficulty breathing

Methadone Addiction

If you use the drug without any medical supervision or guidance, you’re likely to develop an addiction to methadone. This is viewed as a severe psychiatric disorder, and you’re likely to experience moderate to severe symptoms.

Addiction can lead to several physical effects such as poor self-care and hygiene. Addicts will share needs when injecting methadone and other drugs, which increases the chances of contracting a blood-borne disease like hepatitis or HIV.

Those who combine methadone addiction with other illicit drugs risk suffering from organ damage and long-term health issues. These can be brain damage, cardiovascular system damage, hypertension, and liver damage.

Withdrawal Treatment

If you’re suffering from methadone addiction, you don’t need to give it to the temptations and its relief. Withdrawal and addiction treatment can help you regain control of your health and improve your lifestyle.

Treatment usually involves reducing your daily dose. If your dose is 40 mg, you can start dropping it down by 3 mg. When you get to 20, drop it by 2 mg. Continue this until you get to 5 mg a day.

These steps ensure a slow but comfortable withdrawal process without resulting in severe withdrawal symptoms. Of course, you’ll experience some symptoms after withdrawing.

Effects of Methadone – The Takeaway

Methadone is an opiate medication for people who have developed opiate use disorders. Fortunately, when methadone program requirements are followed and medication is taken as prescribed, it can be a huge help in recovering your life after addiction.

If you’re short on time and looking for help contact (855) 976-2092.

Do you have any questions or thoughts about the effects and risks of methadone addiction? Free to share them with us in the comments section below.

Sources

[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, January 22). Opioid Overdose Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis

[2] Methadone: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (2018, March 15). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682134.html

[3] Hilke Jungen, Hilke Andresen-Streichert, Alexander Müller, Stefanie Iwersen-Bergmann; Monitoring Intravenous Abuse of Methadone or Buprenorphine in Opiate Maintenance Treatment (OMT): A Simple and Fast LC–MS-MS Method for the Detection of Disaccharides in Urine Samples, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 41, Issue 1, 1 January 2017, Pages 22–31, https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkw099
positives of methadone treatment

The Unbelievable Advantages of Methadone Treatment

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Methadone saves lives. Hundreds of studies confirm its therapeutic power.

This isn’t a perfect medication. Methadone is certainly not for everyone and it does come with side effects. but it allows opiate addicted people to get off of the drug and enjoy a better life.

If you or someone you love needs help for an opiate addiction, it deserves your consideration.

Here are just some of the benefits of methadone treatment.

Does Methadone Work?

Nothing out there works better than methadone at keeping addicts away from their drug of choice. This medication gives addicts relief from withdrawal symptoms.

This is such a huge benefit. One of the main reasons why addicts don’t want to get clean is because they’re afraid of the symptoms they’ll experience during withdrawal.

If we can limit their symptoms, hopefully, we can convince more people to seek help and eliminate the desire to use opiates.

It’s Inexpensive

Methadone treatment costs less than other types of addiction treatment.

The costs of a treatment program are pretty low. There is absolutely a benefit to long-term stay facilities to help people get clean and maintain sobriety, but the cost is often prohibitive.

Methadone will give you relief for 24 hours a day for the price of a few drinks at Starbucks.

Even with the falling cost of opiates, anyone who is quitting using these drugs will save money every month switching from buying them to buying methadone.

It Helps You Get and Stay Healthy

Addiction is certainly not associated with good health, there are serious health consequences of opioid abuse.

On methadone, people start to feel better and are able to take care of themselves. They become more self-aware and gradually return to their previous lives.

Also, it’s worth noting that methadone treatment will never require you to share a needle. When you’re actively participating in a treatment program, you greatly reduce the risk of the diseases associated with IV drug use.

It’s Legal

Methadone is legal. As long as you’re enrolled in a legitimate methadone maintenance treatment program, you have every right to use it.

When you are using drugs like heroin, you are risking arrest, prosecution, and jail time. And that’s only talking about legality, which doesn’t even mention the ways that you’re risking your health.

An opiate addiction gets expensive. Many addicts find themselves resorting to criminal activities to pay for their drugs to stop experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Some leave their families, quit their jobs, and lose everything they have.

You won’t need to break a law to pay for your methadone.

It Helps You Get Your Life Together

Methadone works as an addiction treatment because it provides lasting relief. It doesn’t affect your coordination or your ability to think. Plus, it won’t get you high as other drugs do.

When you’re on methadone, you’re able to drive a car, pursue an education or career, and handle your other responsibilities.

Methadone treatments allow you to take your life back from your addiction and take care of yourself and the people that depend on you.

It Gives You Daily Contact

People often say that the biggest drawback to methadone treatment is the fact that you have to visit a clinic every day. However, this can also be a tool to use for improving your life.

A daily trip to the clinic offers a structure. This gives people who are used to spiraling out of control a bit of normalcy and stability to hang onto.

Getting up in the morning and going to the clinic helps you to keep focused on the activities that are keeping you healthy and happy.

When you get to the clinic, you get to be in contact with people who can help you, such as therapists and healthcare workers.

It works the same way that group therapy works. When we have people to talk to, keep up with, and hold us accountable, we are more capable of succeeding.

Healthy Pregnancy and Baby

Pregnant opiate addicts and their babies tend to do a lot better on methadone. It increases the odds of a successful pregnancy and the delivery of a healthy baby.

Withdrawal symptoms are serious for anyone, but they are especially detrimental to a newborn’s health. But these symptoms are eliminated in women in methadone treatment.

Pregnant women on treatment get much better care than those who abuse heroin or other opiates.

The process of withdrawal is way too hard on a fetus, especially when a mother tries to get clean right away. Medical professionals recommend methadone for pregnant addicts due to its low risks.

It Prolongs Your Life

You put your life in jeopardy every time you use opiates illicitly. There is a risk of disease, accident, infection, overdose, or even death.

Opiate addicts who aren’t on methadone are more likely to die than people getting treatment.

Is Methadone Treatment Right for You?

Some people find the side effects of methadone treatment hard to handle. Others don’t like the daily commitment of driving to a clinic to take the medication.

But no one can argue that methadone doesn’t work.

No other drug works better to get rid of the cravings and symptoms of withdrawal.

If you take the treatment as directed and go to counseling, therapy, a support group, or a mix of all three, you’ll be able to get your life back. You can hold down a job, take care of yourself and your family, and get your health in shape.

Methadone has saved lives. It can save yours too.

If you have any questions or wish to know about methadone treatment or opiate addiction, visit us today! Our team can guide you through this journey and make an opiate withdrawal a lot easier.

Want to learn more about methadone treatment? Give us a call at (855) 976- 2092!

Sources

[1] Pharmacologic treatments for opioid dependence: detoxification and maintenance options. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3202507/

[2] Reducing the health consequences of opioid addiction in primary care. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23664112

Can Methadone Detox Be Done At Home

4 Benefits & Risks of Performing Methadone Detox At Home

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With an estimated 20 million people are dealing with types of substance use disorders, you’re not alone in your path to recovery. While there are many people who are dealing with similar issues, no two roads to recovery will look exactly the same. When you’re going through a methadone detox, make sure you’ve built a recovery program that’s shaped to your needs.

The increasing number of people who are choosing to perform their detox at home can thank increased research and accessibility to detox materials. Whether its the medication that aids detox or just the ability to talk about it in public, this is a great time to get healthier through recovery.

If you’re interested in finding ways of performing your methadone detox at home, make sure you know these 4 benefits and risks.

1. Familiar Surroundings

One of the benefits of handling your methadone detox at home is that you can feel comfortable in familiar surroundings. Whether you live with family members or alone, you can easily be found by the people who care about you. You’ll be in a place that feels like a home rather than someplace clinical.

Inside a hospital, you’ll be in surroundings that are completely alien. You might even have to ask someone if you want to use the bathroom. It can feel very stifling and difficult to regain your autonomy inside of a clinical detox facility.

However, one risk of running your detox at home is that you could be forced to interact with the people who might cause you to use in the first place. Some people have enablers in their life and experience addiction relapse triggers that are connected to members of their family or close friends. If you’re detoxing at home, you’ll be just a phone call or a knock on the door from people who might make you want to use.

Inside of a clinic, you’ll have to approve anyone who can visit. Clinics usually have security and locked doors that can protect your privacy and help to keep out anyone who might interfere with your recovery.

If you need space from the people in your life who are connected to your drug use, make sure detoxing at home can provide that protection.

2. Access to Medical Staff

One risk of doing your detox at home is being outside of the supervision of a medical professional.

Having access to medical staff could end up saving your life if you relapse or have trouble while detoxing. As your body flushes out toxins and gets over its dependency on a substance, it can cause facing opiate withdrawal symptoms. Untreated, withdrawal can cause life-threatening issues as your body goes into shock or attempts to overcompensate for the things its come to rely on.

Under the supervision of medical staff at a detox facility, their intervention could save your life.

However, if you’ve been in the hospital already and have started the process of detox, you won’t need this medical staff. The price of having them at your beck and call is what costs so much in a recovery facility. If you go to a facility unnecessarily, you could end up paying an arm and a leg for someone to bring you soup and medication every day.

If you’ve already overcome the initial shock of going through withdrawal, you don’t need medical staff as badly as someone who is just beginning. Skip the expensive medical bills and do your detox at home.

3. Freedom To Roam

Because many of the aforementioned detox facilities have you under lock and key, you might not be able to move as freely as possible. One of the benefits of detoxing at home is that you can go about your day at your own pace.

You might want to catch up with some healthy, sober friends for lunch or for an evening ball game. Under the supervision of a detox facility, this might not be a possibility. You might need to be home within a certain window of time or be back by a certain time in the evening.

If you detox at home, you get to make your own schedule.

One of the risks of your own schedule is falling into relapse without structure. Your home detox needs to have lots of structure built in, with some flexibility. If you make it too rigid, you’ll find that you get anxious and bored and could end up springing back into your old habits.

The best thing you can do is to have a schedule mapped out and some people to hold you accountable for it. When you have your day planned out, leaving room for time to have fun, you can do the things you love to do while making sure you cut out room to relapse. Idle time could let your mind drift into thinking about use.

4. Bounce Right Back

One of the benefits of detoxing at home is that you can get right back into the swing of things in your life. Maintaining the steady rhythm of things that you rely on and the way you like to live your life is important for people in recovery. Giving your new life a sense of normalcy allows you to feel the benefits of being sober.

One of the risks of being at home is that your choice to bounce right back could lead you to the stressors that caused your issue in the first place. If work stress was causing you to use, being back in the office right after detox could cause those feelings to return.

Ensure you’ve built a healthy barrier between the things that trigger use and the things that make you feel good about your life.

Methadone Detox At Home Takes Preparations

As long as you’re well prepared to treat yourself at home, you should know that methadone helps more than it hurts when detoxing. The biggest hurdles to detoxing at home are the number of triggers you could encounter or people who enable your usage. Make sure you draw a line that can separate you from one another and you should find recovery to be easy. To find out more information or locate methadone clinics nearby contact (855) 976-2092.

Sources:

SAMHSA. (2019, January 30). Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disorders

Psy.D, M. R. (2015, January 08). 5 Steps for Managing Your Emotional Triggers. Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wander-woman/201507/5-steps-managing-your-emotional-triggers

What is a methadone clinic?

What Are Methadone Clinics and How Can They Help?

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If you’re struggling with opiate abuse, you aren’t alone. It’s estimated that over 2 million people in the United States are living with opiate or heroin addiction.

If you’re looking for a way to kick your habit for good, you might be wondering what are methadone clinics? Overcoming addiction with methadone could be the answer to your treatment problems.

Want to learn more about how getting treated at a methadone clinic can help your addiction problems? We’ll tell you everything you need to know.

 

What Are Methadone Clinics?

Methadone has been used to treat opiate addictions for decades. Methadone treatment programs help people with opiate and opioid addictions under the supervision of medical professionals.

View these clinics as a type of replacement therapy. Instead of taking the drugs you usually would, you’re given methadone, an opioid analgesic, in its place. It can be administered in a pill, wafer, or liquid.

Methadone works by blocking the effects of opiates and opioids. It reduces the usual feelings of euphoria people would typically feel after doing drugs and helps reduce typical cravings.

Benefits Of Methadone Treatment

There are a variety of ways people choose to stop using drugs. Many people use methadone clinics as a supplement to other forms of treatment and opioid detox methods.

Seeing a therapist or attending a support group in addition to going to methadone clinics can be an excellent way to stop using opiates.

There are a variety of benefits to other forms of therapy, but for now, we’re going to focus on the benefits of getting treated at a methadone clinic.

Good For High-Levels Of Addiction

Some people with opiate problems have been struggling with addiction on and off for years. They may be used to taking large amounts of the drug and may worry about the intensity of withdrawal.

Methadone is a very effective drug for easing the physical cravings for opiates. This can help with other symptoms like anxiety, nausea, and body aches.

People at all levels of opiate addiction can benefit from getting treatment at a methadone clinic. But people concerned about the intensity of withdrawals should look into this kind of treatment.

Treatment Flexibility

Some people find that inpatient drug rehab is the best treatment option for themselves. But there are also people that want to stop using drugs but aren’t in a position where they can go for an extended visit inpatient rehab.

You may be the only person with the ability to earn income in your family, and you don’t want to miss work and put them in a bad position.

You can have other important responsibilities that would be disrupted by extended inpatient treatment.

If you get treated at a methadone clinic, you just need to make time to get your daily doses of medication. Many clinics offer flexible hours so people can attend around their daily schedule.

You should still make time to visit doctors and go to therapy on your own, but this can be much easier to manage than being away from work and other responsibilities for a few weeks.

Controlled Treatment

Many people know that methadone can be used to treat opiate addiction, but they make the mistake of assuming they can get the drug on their own and treat their addiction themselves.

This method can be dangerous and could lead to overdoses and other potential problems.

Methadone can be an extremely effective treatment when it’s administered under the supervision of a doctor.

They can help adjust doses of methadone to ensure that you’re only taking as much as you need. They can evaluate your health and see if there are other treatments that may be helpful.

Have Options

When some people think about going to methadone clinics, they worry that they won’t be able to choose where they go.

The availability of methadone treatment has improved over the years, and people will find that they have a variety of options at hand on where to get treatment.

There are both public and private clinics you can choose to get treatment at.

Some public clinics can have long wait lists for new patients, but they tend to be a more affordable option for people. Private clinics tend to have a much shorter wait time, but they can cost more money.

Some methadone clinics can have relationships with other treatment centers and can help recommend other places for you to go.

Be sure to ask about other treatment options you can use while you’re being treated. They may be able to help recommend a good therapist, group therapy meeting, or nutritionist.

Reduce Depression

Some opiate addicts are worried about stopping because they use it to self-medicate their depression.

It’s important to note that you should speak to a doctor if you think you’re suffering from symptoms of depression. They can help properly medicate you and get you the treatment that you need.

There’s research that shows that methadone may be a good treatment option for addicts with co-occurring disorders. Some addicts that choose methadone treatment find that it helps them manage their depression better when they’re detoxing.

Improve Your Quality Of Life

Addictions of all kinds can have negative impacts on peoples lives. Addiction can cause problems with families, marriages, jobs, and personal health.

Being addicted to heroin or a different kind of opiate could put your loved ones, health, and professional life in danger. If your addiction gets out of control you can cause serious damage to yourself and others around you.

People that use methadone to treat their addictions report having a better quality of life. Because they’re able to stop abusing drugs, they start to see other areas of their life improve.

Learn More

Now that you know what methadone clinics are and how they can help treat heroin and opiate addiction, you may want to learn more.

Read our post on evidence-based practices for addiction that show how helpful methadone treatment can really be. After that, check out our collection of statistics on heroin abuse.

If you know someone that’s struggling with addiction, be sure to share our content so you can help someone else in need. If you’re looking to get someone into treatment or seeking more information contact (855) 976-2092.

 

Sources

American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2016). Opioid Addiction 2016 Facts & Figures. Retrieved From: https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf

Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. 6, Methadone maintenance treatment. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310658/

Parvaresh, N., Masoudi, A., Majidi-Tabrizi, S., & Mazhari, S. (2012). The Correlation between Methadone Dosage and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Patients on Methadone Maintenance Treatment. Addiction & health, 4(1-2), 1-8. Retrieved From: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905553/

signs of being high on drugs

7 Unique Ways On How To Tell if Someone Is High On Opiates

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Opiates are extremely addictive drugs that can cause restlessness, muscle pain, mood problems, insomnia, and even death if overused.

Nearly 12 million people in the US use opiates for non-medical reasons. Among them, 2.1 million are opiates addicts.

Are you wondering how to tell if someone is high on opiates?

Most people think that one cannot be able to tell when someone is high on opiates. But that’s not true. There are unique signs that someone is using opiates. Read on to discover the warning signs.

How to Tell If Someone Is High on Opiates

It’s quite hard to know if a close friend or a family member is abusing opiates. Here are a few unique ways to tell if a person is addicted to opiates.

1. Looking at a Person’s Appearance

It’s important to learn how to tell if someone is on drugs by looking at them.

If someone is high on opiates, they’ll appear tired or sleepy. They’ll also have constricted pupils. Despite being sleepy, the person will still want to continue with a conversation and will speak in a slurred voice.

Their eyes may be red and glazed. The opiates addict may also appear confused and forgetful.

A person who’s high on opiates will also have less control of their body. For this reason, if a loved one demonstrates poor balance or clumsiness, this could be a sign that they are opiate addicts.

You should also note that nosebleeds can occur when opiates are sniffed or snorted.

Therefore, if a person nosebleeds a lot or has rashes around the nose and mouth, this may be a sign that they abuse opiates.

You should also learn about opiate detox and take the necessary measures to help the addict.

2. Unusual Smells

If a person is abusing opiates, their skin, clothing, or breath may have an unusual smell.

The unusual smell is as a result of chemical interaction between the compounds found in opiates and the person’s body. If a person smokes the drug, this can also cause the foul smell.

You should note that the person abusing opiates is unlikely to notice the unusual smell.

3. Sudden Weight Loss and Changes in Sleep Patterns

Sudden weight loss or changes in sleep patterns are also signs of opiate use in adults.

Most opiate addicts also have reduced appetite. If someone has abrupt changes in their appetite, this could be a sign that they’re battling opiate addition.

It’s also important to look at their weight. Sudden weight loss is a symptom of opiate addiction.

If a person goes for days without sleeping or sleeps for long periods of time, this is a symptom of opiate addiction.

4. Injuries

When looking for signs of opiate use, ensure you look for excessive injuries. As we mentioned, opiate addicts have less control of their body. This may cause injuries.

If you notice mild cuts, bruises, or any other unexplained injury, this could be an indication that the person is an opiate addict.

The person may not remember how they got the injuries or may become defensive when you ask about the injuries.

5. Involuntary Movements

An opiate addict may have difficulty forming words and controlling movements. As a result, you may notice involuntary movements such as tremors.

The person may also have difficulty holding things such as pens and cups.

6. Poor Personal Hygiene

Opiates make addicts forgetful. This may cause an opiate addict to forget their personal hygiene needs such as grooming hair, changing into clean clothes, and taking showers.

The person may also spend lots of hours doing other cleaning activities, despite the lack of personal hygiene.

7. If a Person Can’t Explain How They Use Their Money

Opiates addicts spend almost all their money on the drugs. If a person can’t explain how they spend their money, they may be spending it on opiates.

Someone who is addicted to opiates may also steal to satisfy their craving. If you find yourself missing items of high value, this could be a sign that you are living with a person who is addicted to drugs.

Here are more signs of opiate use:

  • Change in a person’s social circle,
  • Increased level of secrecy,
  • Early refills

If you have a loved one or a friend whose opiate addiction is obvious, you should do something to help.

How Can You Help?

Well, we’ve come up with steps that you should follow. But before we give you the steps, ensure you take some time and study a few things about opiates so you can know how to help the addict.

This will help make the fight against opiates addition easy and successful.

Step 1: Ask Them If They’re Addicted to Opiates

If you notice obvious signs of opiates use, ask the person if they’re addicted to opiates or not. Be respectful and use kind words that will not offend the person.

Don’t call the person a junkie!

The word ‘junkie’ is incredibly disrespectful and insensitive. If you’re respectful and you express your willingness to help, they’ll tell you if they are addicted or not.

If the person admits that they abuse opiates, move to the next step.

Step 2: Ask Them What They Are Doing to Fight Addiction

Before you give your opinion, ask them what they’re doing to fight addiction. This will show that you care and you trust them.

You should, however, avoid being too nice. This might not help; it’ll make the situation worse. Use the “tough love” approach. This will show them that you love them but don’t like their addiction.

After they’ve told you what they’re doing to fight their addiction, move to the next step.

Step 3: Tell Them How You Can Help Them

Tell the person you’re ready to help and explain how you can help them. You should also keep reminding them that they’re not alone and you’re there to help.

This will help them open up and trust you more.

Step 4: Seek Support from Professionals

Seek support from a qualified expert. It can be a therapist or support groups.

Qualified professionals will guide the person and will help them recover from addiction. Once you seek professional help, ensure everything you do encourages change in the opiates addict.

Tip: If you want to help an opiates addict don’t engage in negative enabling. What is negative enabling? This is a term that refers to the act of giving a person addicted to opiates resources to maintain their lifestyle and addiction.

Bottom-Line

Opiate addiction results in serious health issues. Thankfully, you can tell if a loved one is abusing opiates. Make sure you learn how to tell if someone is high on opiates.

If a family member or a friend is addicted to opiates, ensure you follow the steps we’ve discussed to help them.

Remember to visit our website for informative articles about the benefits and risks of various drugs.

 

Sources

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/legislative-activities/testimony-to-congress/2016/americas-addiction-to-opioids-heroin-prescription-drug-abuse

What is an Opiate Detox Timeline? | Methadone Near Me. (2018, March 23). Retrieved from https://methadonenearme.com/methadone-maintenance/what-is-an-opiate-detox-timeline

Morley JE , et al. (n.d.). Opioid modulation of appetite. – PubMed – NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6136016

warning signs of addiction

8 Tell-Tale Signs You’re Addicted to Opiates

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Think you or a loved one might have an opiate addiction? Well, what are the signs you are addicted?

In the United States alone, more than 115 people per day die from opiate-related overdose.

You may be familiar with the most well-known opiate, heroin. But over the last thirty years, the availability of prescription pills like Vicodin and Oxycontin have caused the opiate epidemic to become a serious, country-wide crisis.

Because opiates like narcotic painkillers come in many forms, it’s not always obvious when someone is suffering from an addiction.

But there are some tell-tale symptoms that will signal a problem. We’ve broken down a guide below to help you look for signs that you’re addicted to opiates.

Taking Higher Doses Than Prescribed

If you or someone you love is addicted to opiates, it’s very likely they will have to increase the amount they’re taking in order to maintain the same effect on the body they once experienced when first taking the drug.

Over time, the body will build up a tolerance to the drug and a higher dosage will be required. Many times this is how an overdose occurs. Pay attention to how many pills you or someone you know are consuming.

If you see yourself requiring more mediation than your prescription accounts for in order to maintain a baseline high, you may be dealing with an addiction. Needing more means that your body is also likely not experiencing any downtime, off the drug to reset.

The more frequently you take the drugs, the faster your tolerance builds up. So, along with taking a higher dose than you’re prescribed, you’ll also notice you are going through your prescription faster than you likely had in the past when you first started and should evaluate your relationship with the drug.

Seeking Multiple Prescriptions

Another one of the primary signs you’re addicted to opiates is getting your prescriptions from more than one physician.

No reputable doctor will over-prescribe a narcotic and there are steps and protocol he or she must follow in order to determine if you should, in fact, continue on the prescription.

For many suffering from addiction, the amount of medication one doctor is willing to prescribe simply won’t suffice. If you find yourself or someone you love seeking the same prescription from different doctors, this is a signal of overuse and possible addiction.

It is likely the separate doctors are not communicating with one another and sharing your information. Furthermore, you are likely not indicating to the second doctor that you already have access to this prescription. Lying to a doctor in order to receive more drugs is a very strong sign of dependency on that drug.

Mood Swings

Another sign of opiate abuse is mood swings. If you are experiencing big amounts of energy, manic happiness, and overexcitement and then find yourself falling hard into a depression, sadness or despondency, this is a sign of drug abuse.

Opiates signal to our brain a feeling euphoria and with that comes a calmness and a decrease in anxiety. In other words, opiates directly affect your mood.

Because of their powerful effect on our brain chemistry, someone who is addicted to opiates will experience a strong opposite reaction when they are coming off the drug or in need of their next fix. Someone who is addicted to opiates could be in a positive, calm, centered place one minute, and the next, experience extreme agitation, anxiety or overwhelming sadness.

Be sure to watch for these extreme mood shifts from either yourself or someone else in your life you might be concerned about.

Changes in Energy Level

Similarly to the mood swings, you may notice drastic changes in energy level when dealing with an opiate addiction. Someone who is high on an opiate, whether it be a pill or heroin, will experience drowsiness, calmness and overall inability to focus and be attentive.

There is a common term referred to when speaking about opiate abuse symptoms called “nodding out”. This is when the user will appear to have fallen asleep, usually while seated and even in the middle of a conversation with another person or when they just seemed relatively alert a moment before.

Poor Judgment

With drug abuse comes poor decision making. The brain is not operating on all cylinders and judgment has been compromised.

Along with the chemical effects on the brain, an addict is focused on one thing; the high. This becomes the central focus and main priority, causing other important things in life to take a backseat or be ignored completely.

Bad judgment could be anything from falling behind at work to getting into a toxic relationship or finding yourself in financial trouble due to your addiction.

Many times with addiction comes increased lying or omissions on the part of the abuser. This is typically done to protect themselves and maintain their habit by any means necessary, oftentimes resulting in bad decision making.

Changes in Sleep Habits

Because opiates are a sedative, there will likely be a drastic change in sleeping behavior when someone is abusing the drug.

A sign of opiate abuse is the inability to sleep without the help of the drugs and when the drug is taken, longer stretches of sleep and sometimes at strange times.

Someone who is suffering from addiction might take a pill in the middle of the day and find themselves asleep in the afternoon or appear to be more tired than they should.

Inversely, you may notice that someone who is addicted to opiates is not able to sleep at all without them and relies on them for even a normal nights rest.

Track Marks

Opiate addiction can be elusive, especially for those abusing the narcotic in pill form. However, for those who are abusing heroin, the signs are a little more obvious.

Someone who is injecting heroin on a regular basis will begin to show physical signs, called track marks, on their body. Watch for these marks on their inner arm, where a doctor would commonly take blood from.

But be aware that all the user needs is a good vein and therefore track marks could exist in other parts of the body. Some users inject heroin into their big toe which is a much more discrete area and harder to notice.

Having the knowledge that these marks could exist anywhere will help you spot the signs.

Symptoms of Withdrawal

Someone who is seriously addicted to opiates will certainly experience withdrawal symptoms when that drug is no longer available to them, even if it’s for a short time.

An addict needs to maintain a high in order for ways to avoid withdrawal symptoms. As soon as the high begins to dissipate, a withdrawal symptom will be noticeable. The most common things to look for are a change in body temperature, sweating, nausea, irritability or even vomiting.

If these symptoms come on and they are quickly quelled as soon as the pill is taken, this is a huge sign that your body can no longer function without the drug and you are dealing with an addiction.

Signs You’re Addicted to Opiates; What’s Next?

With the guide above, you now know the signals that you’re addicted to opiates. The good news is, there’s always a way out and discovering there’s a problem is the first step in solving it.

Check out tips about detoxing off opiates, read up on how to get opiate recovery and as always, consult with a doctor if a serious addiction does exist.

Sources

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, January 22). Opioid Overdose Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis

Opioid Drugs: Dosage, Side Effects, and More. (2012, July 19). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/narcotic-pain-medications#1

support for families of addicts

10 Supportive Tips for Family and Friends of an Opiate Addict

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Every year, there are more than 2 million Americans who deal with opiate addiction. So if you have a friend or family member who is an addict, you should know that you definitely are not alone.

Despite this, it can be a real challenge for those who know an opiate addict to provide them with the help they need. Some addicts don’t recognize they have a problem, while others are simply unwilling to accept help from those who love them most.

Don’t let this discourage you from providing assistance to an addict. Here are some supportive tips that will help you do it.

1. Learn as Much About Opiate Addiction as You Can

Unless you’re a former opiate addict yourself, there’s a good chance that you don’t have any idea what your loved one is going through. This can make it hard, if not impossible, for you to communicate with them.

You should do your best to learn as much about opiate addiction as you possibly can. You can do it by:

  • Reading books on addiction
  • Finding articles about addiction online
  • Reaching out to an addiction center to get brochures
  • Speaking with an addiction counselor

While you still won’t ever be able to 100 percent relate to an opiate addict, you’ll increase your chances of connecting when you educate yourself about addiction.

2. Let Your Loved One Know You’re There for Them

After you know all there is to know about addiction, you should try to speak with the opiate addict in your life about what they’re going through.

If they haven’t revealed their addiction to anyone yet, you might want to start out by speaking generally and asking if there’s anything they’re struggling with at the moment. If they’ve been upfront about their addiction, you might want to get more specific and see how they’re feeling about their problem.

Above all else, you should let them know that you want to provide them with as much support as you can. Whether they simply want someone to talk to or need help finding an opiate rehab center, you should then follow through and provide them with the help they need.

3. Offer to Assist With Finding Professional Help

One of the things that’s tough for an addict is that they often want help but don’t know where to turn to get it.

If your loved one asks you to find professional help for their problem, you should research different rehab centers in your area and find one that will work for them. You should keep everything from cost to the experience level of those at the centers in mind to come up with a list of their best options.

4. Understand If Your Initial Attempts at Helping Are Rejected

You may want to help an opiate addict, but that doesn’t mean that they want help from you.

If they tell you to back off or ask for you to butt out of their lives, you should respect their wishes and understand where they’re coming from.

At the same time, you should let them know again that you’re there for them if they ever need help.

5. Avoid Becoming an Enabler

Those who know an opiate addict often try to “help” them by enabling them. They do this by:

  • Lending them money
  • Making excuses for them when they continue to use opiates
  • Bailing them out of jail when they run into legal problems

It’s very easy to get sucked into being an enabler. Avoid doing it at all costs since it could just make an already bad problem even worse.

6. Consider Holding an Intervention

Does it feel like the addict in your life just isn’t “getting it” as far as realizing they have a problem?

One way to open their eyes might be to stage an intervention. While you want to be careful about how you go about doing it, you can bring a person’s friends and family together to let them know exactly how their addiction is taking a toll on others.

Often times, someone battling addiction will make a stronger commitment to quitting drugs and get the help they need once they see how their actions are affecting others.

7. Practice Patience and Manage Your Expectations

A person isn’t going to beat an opiate addiction overnight. There are some people who struggle with addiction for months and even years.

Even if a person says they’re willing to get help, you should be patient and manage whatever expectations you might have for them. Don’t expect them to beat their addiction right away.

8. Continue to Let Your Loved One Know You’re There for Them

A lot of opiate addicts will try to beat their addiction only to fail. If this happens to your loved one, it’s important for you to not give up on them.

People often give up on themselves and that makes it even harder for them to bounce back from addiction. They don’t think it’s worth them even trying to beat addiction at that point.

Continue to talk to your loved one and let them know that you’re there for them, even if they aren’t able to beat addiction right away. They’ll appreciate knowing they have someplace to turn.

9. Get the Help You Need to Deal With Addiction

Addiction can obviously wreak havoc on an opiate addict’s life. But it can also wreak havoc on your life if you don’t get any help for yourself.

You should consider scheduling time with a counselor or therapist if you’re not seeing one already. There are also special classes set up for the families of addicts.

You might not realize it, but your physical and mental well-being could take a hit while you’re helping someone else deal with addiction. If you want to be as strong as you can for them, you should take care of yourself first.

10. Prepare Yourself for Relapse

About 40 to 60 people who receive treatment for opiates experience addiction relapses at some point in their lives. It’s not all that unusual for someone to go through the whole rehab process and then find themselves using drugs again.

While you want to hope for the best, you also want to prepare yourself for the worst. Recognize that your loved one may relapse and that it doesn’t mean you should turn your back on them.

If anything, you should start back at square one as quickly as possible before they find themselves getting back to their old ways again.

Start Helping the Opiate Addict in Your Life Today

Are you an opiate addict suffering from the side effects of addiction, or do you know someone who is addicted to opiates at the moment? You can get them the help they need and allow them to turn their lives around forever.

Learn more about recovery from opiates and find out how to combat one of the biggest problems in the country today, contact (855) 976-2092.

Sources

[1] American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2015, October 13). Opioid Addiction – 2016 Facts & Figures. Retrieved from https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf

[2] Intervention: Help a loved one overcome addiction. (2017, July 20). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/intervention/art-20047451
[3] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Treatment and Recovery. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery