Opioid treatment program work in an intensive framework directed at the complete recovery of the patients suffering from opiates dependency. It is necessary to enroll in an opioid treatment program and get professional help to get rid of the addiction. These programs also provide services to eliminate relapses and help reduce withdrawal symptoms of the patients.
What are the withdrawal symptoms?
When opiate consumption is blocked abruptly, the abuser experiences mental and emotional imbalance for some time and they eventually settle down. These imbalances happen because the opiate receptors cause disturbance in the nervous system of our body. We have listed below some common withdrawal symptoms experienced by patients,
- Severe anxiety attacks
- Abdominal cramping
- Irritability
- Depression
- Impulsiveness
- Body aches
- Restless leg syndrome
- Distorted thinking
Relapses and withdrawal symptoms are common in every substance abuse case. Therefore, it is necessary to receive treatment at an institution instead of treating it at home. Opioid treatment programs usually involve five methods to deal with patients.
Opioid treatment programs
In this section, we have taken down five robust methods of treatment programs for opioid addiction. These methods are resilient and approved by professionals and doctors.
The first method of the treatment program involves the use of medication. There is a general delusion about addiction recovery medications that the medicines can cause addiction, and the stoppage of these medicines may lead to withdrawal symptoms in the patients. However, these addiction recovery medicines are approved and prescribed by doctors and do not cause any withdrawal symptoms upon stoppage.
The drugs in question are Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Naltrexone. Methadone and Buprenorphine affect the parts of the brain to reduce the withdrawal symptoms, whereas Naltrexone acts as a blockage to control the relapses.
The second method of the treatment program involves the building of a healthier and better life for the patient through counselling. Different counselling methods are incorporated to help out the patient in changing their behaviour and habits. Doctors recommend therapies like group therapy, motivational therapy, and behavioural therapy to patients. In group therapies, patients listen to others’ addiction fights, worries, and victories.
Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) is another method of the opioid treatment program that combines counselling, medicines, and behavioural therapy to provide a wholesome recovery plan for the patient. Doctors have claimed that Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) has reduced the overdose of opiates by 50 to 60 percent. The method is still under the modification process, and experts are working to improve the efficiency of MAT.
There are other treatment programs like Residential programs that offer treatment of the patient from within the facility for a stipulated time. The patients are kept with other patients receiving the same treatment for Opiate Use Disorder. The Partial hospitalization program is another popular treatment program that is an upgraded version of the residential program where patients receive counselling and detoxification. Outpatient programs involve high-level supervision by professionals after the patient’s release from the facility. The outpatient rehab programs are convenient as many patients have family and job commitments.