The opioid epidemic plaguing the country has resulted in numerous deaths and ruined countless lives. Opioids are highly addictive, and their addictive properties have combined with over-prescription by doctors and the widespread availability of illegal opioids to create a dangerous and even life-threatening situation for addicts. In fact, it is estimated that 2.7 million people in the United States alone are addicted to opioids. According to the CDC, in 2023, approximately 81,000 people died from an opioid overdose.
The cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with breaking an addiction are severe, and they have led to many people reusing. However, help is available, and a relapse is not inevitable. Methadone is used as a medication-assisted treatment, or MAT. How can methadone treatment assist you on your road to recovery?
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What Is Methadone Rehabilitation?
Methadone rehabilitation has effectively helped many people break their opiate addiction and live a healthier lifestyle. Unlike buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist that is also used in drug addiction treatment programs, methadone is a full opioid agonist. In the body, it acts on the same receptors as opiates like heroin and painkillers, but it has a long-acting effect that helps to stabilize the nervous system and reduce cravings. This makes it an effective tool for managing opioid dependence and preventing relapse.
The acute symptoms of opioid withdrawal begin as soon as eight hours after the last drug use. Full withdrawal symptoms are typically experienced between one to 10 days after the last use.
The symptoms include:
- Muscle aches and pains throughout the body
- Restlessness, irritability and anxiety
- Spasms, cramps, tension and twitching
- Tremors or shakes
- Insomnia or Drowsiness
- Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
- A racing heartbeat
- Dilated pupils
- Teary eyes
- Hot flashes or cold sweats
Additional symptoms can be experienced for up to six months after the last use. These include:
- Dysphoria
- Increased sensitivity to pain, decreased cognitive function
- Sleep disturbances
- Poor focus
Medically assisted treatment using methadone eases the symptoms of withdrawal, making them more manageable. In addition to improving your comfort level as the opioids leave your system, methadone dampers cravings. As a result, there is a reduced desire to start using again. Because of this, methadone typically continues to be administered after the acute withdrawal symptoms have subsided. While treatment times vary, many patients use methadone in drug rehabilitation for approximately 12 months. It’s important to note that methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, and its use of methadone should be closely monitored by a healthcare provider.
While methadone can be an effective treatment for opiate addiction, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential for methadone withdrawal and the risk of methadone addiction itself. If you are considering methadone rehabilitation, it’s important to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor and to seek treatment at a reputable methadone clinic or treatment center.
The Role of Methadone in Rehabilitation
Effective treatment programs for breaking an opioid addiction provide support beyond the detox stage. Medically supervised care is combined with holistic therapy to promote healing and positive change. Often, many of the factors that contributed to the addiction will be present during recovery after the individual returns to his or her daily life. Methadone treatment with therapy and counseling provide support and resources that promote a more successful recovery.
Personalized treatment plans are customized to suit the individuals needs. Plans provide individuals with effective strategies to cope with stressors and triggers. They offer guidance on improving relationships, diverting or avoiding temptations and other essentials. While therapy is tailored to suit your needs, some of the options include individual, group and family therapy. Often, patients benefit from a combination of therapies.
Methadone plays an important role in both detox and recovery. This is because it stymies cravings. When cravings are kept under control, you can focus on healing and making positive life changes during recovery.
Methadone Rehabilitation at Recreate Life Counseling
At Recreate Life Counseling, we focus on helping individuals succeed with long-term recovery by incorporating medically-assisted treatment with therapy, group counseling and holistic care. Opioids trigger the release of a feel-good hormone, dopamine, in the body. Dopamine acts to produce feelings of satisfaction and pleasure. This is one of the reasons why people can become dependent on opioids and require methadone maintenance treatment as part of their recovery journey.
In addition to being physically addictive, opioids are also mentally addictive. One of the significant factors associated with an opioid addiction is a person’s environment. Those exposed to triggers and pressure in social circles are more likely to develop an addiction, and they often find it more challenging to achieve long-term recovery. In addition, some people suffering from mental health conditions self-medicate using opioids to ease their symptoms.
We create personalized methadone treatment plans that are tailored to suit each patient’s individual needs. These plans may involve a gradual reduction of the dose of methadone over time, with careful monitoring for any side effects of methadone. Your treatment plan includes identifying and treating underlying mental health conditions. It also includes understanding environmental triggers and pressures. Strategies and skills are developed to overcome these detrimental factors. Because opioid detoxification can be uncomfortable and even dangerous, our team of specialists at Recreate Life Counseling provide safe and medical supervision throughout the program. Our goal is to help you safely and effectively manage your opioid treatment program and achieve lasting recovery.
Benefits of Professional Methadone Rehabilitation
Breaking an opioid addiction is challenging, and the risk of a relapse is high. In fact, up to 88% of individuals relapse within 36 months of detox. While the statistics are bleak, you can dramatically improve your chance of a successful long-term recovery.
- Professional rehabilitation does more than make the process of detoxification safer and more comfortable. Because it addresses the underlying factors that contribute to opioid usage, it decreases the chance of a relapse.
- Treatment using methadone continues to suppress the desire to return to opioid usage throughout treatment. Because treatment is professionally supervised and because methadone is less likely to result in an overdose compared to buprenorphine, drug rehabilitation is safer.
- While the physical effects of detoxification and recovery are powerful, many people also struggle with the emotional and psychological aspects of recovery. Through medical assistance combined with holistic treatments, therapy and counseling, we provide the full support and structure that you need as you break the addiction and move forward from substance abuse.
Through this comprehensive approach, you will have the resources and guidance necessary to achieve your goal of a substance-free life.
How to Begin Methadone Rehabilitation
The first step toward opioid use disorder recovery is seeking professional assistance. Our compassionate and knowledgeable team at Recreate Life Counseling is available to speak with you today. We will answer your questions about methadone treatment, which is an evidence-based approach to substance abuse treatment, and learn more about your unique circumstances. In addition, if you have insurance, we will review your coverage to provide you with a cost estimate.
Our experienced team will then prepare a customized treatment plan tailored specifically to your needs. We offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, and we will explain why we’ve recommended a specific treatment option for you. This may include a combination of medication-assisted treatment and behavioral therapies to address both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction. Admission is straightforward, and we will guide you through the process and help you embark on your journey on successful footing.
Contact us today to learn more about our methadone rehabilitation program and begin your journey to recovery from drug addiction.
Published on: 2024-12-31
Updated on: 2024-12-31
