Treating Addiction in West Virginia
West Virginia has experienced huge losses to overdose deaths and a growing problem with opioid addiction. The indiscriminate prescribing of opiates has added to a steady stream of drugs within the state. When people can no longer get these prescription narcotics, they turn to illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl.
Opioids are some of the most addictive drugs, making treatment particularly difficult. Medication -assisted treatment programs using methadone have become increasingly available with promising results.
The problem is in convincing a person to seek treatment in the first place. A family led intervention is a good place to start, and it’s important to understand rehab options.
There are # Methadone Clinics in West Virginia
Understanding Your Options
Those struggling with a prolonged addiction to opioids will benefit from inpatient facilities. These provide residential services that can employ methadone to help with withdrawal symptoms. They allow the person to develop new coping skills through a variety of therapies.
Once an inpatient program has been completed, most of the time they move on to an outpatient plan. These programs can continue the use of medication assisted treatment while providing community resources. They allow more freedom as the person becomes comfortable with the concept of recovery.
Making Progress
In a report by the WV National Institute on Drug Abuse, the state had the highest number of opioid -related overdose deaths in the country last year. This doesn’t include an increase in heroin related deaths, with the number going from 28 to 235 in the same time period.
Many treatment professionals hope that medication assisted treatment with methadone can help to offset some of these numbers and give the state of fighting chance against the opioid epidemic.
Since 2010, the number of deaths associated with synthetic or prescription opioids in WV has more than quadrupled.