Treating Opioid Addiction in Washington
The opioid epidemic is a problem that all of us have become familiar with. Sadly, it’s reached every state in the US—hitting Washington particularly hard. Addiction is a disease that sees no boundaries, and spreads from community to community without discrimination.
The introduction of medication -assisted treatment programs using methadone has helped to curb the growth of opioid addiction, but many people continue to abuse prescription opiates and illicit drugs like fentanyl and heroin. Many families have turned to treatment professionals to help them plan an intervention and to better understand the available rehab programs.
There are # Methadone Clinics in Washington
Treatment Programs
Opioid addiction can lead to a difficult detox period and painful withdrawal symptoms. This can merit a stay at an inpatient residential treatment facility that can utilize medication -assisted treatment to lessen the effects of withdrawal and to make other therapies more effective.
These programs usually last between 28 and 90 days and are followed by an outpatient program. Outpatient treatment consists of many of the same therapies including the administration of methadone to control future drug cravings. This option allows the addict more freedom as they become comfortable with their recovery and learn new coping skills.
Improving Recovery
More people die from overdoses every year than the number of firearm deaths and homicides combined. Steps have been taken to minimize the overprescribing of narcotics, but this hasn’t stopped the flow of illicit drugs into the state.
Treatment programs are seeing new hope with the introduction of more medication -assisted options using methadone to help increase chances of recovery.
Heroin has one of the highest relapse rates out of any other drug, and this is due to chemical depletion in the brain and withdrawals. Medical professionals hope that methadone will change this and turn the tide in favor of sobriety.
There were 1,102 overdose deaths in Washington in 2016.