Opioid use disorder continues to be a major public health concern across the United States. Recent studies reveal that nearly three million US citizens and 16 million people worldwide have had or are currently struggling with opioid addiction. While the majority of these individuals are addicted to prescription opioids such as morphine, codeine, and oxycodone, more than 500,000 US adults are physically dependent on heroin or other illicit opioids.[1]
Although it is extremely difficult to overcome opioid addiction on your own, few people seek the professional help they need. If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid abuse, an opioid rehab center in West Palm Beach may be able to help. Here are the different ways treatment centers address opioid abuse and dependence to help patients make a full recovery.
Medical Detox Comes First
The first step of opioid addiction treatment is medically-assisted detox. Although opioid withdrawal is generally not life-threatening, symptoms can become severe. Medical detox centers can prescribe and dispense medications like methadone, buprenorphine, clonidine, and more to help reduce the severity of your symptoms.
During detox, you not only have access to medications that help alleviate your symptoms, but you also have the support and assistance of detox staff. Nurses will check your vitals on a regular basis and evaluate your symptoms while behavioral health technicians can provide emotional support to help you get through the detox process. Medical detox is the safest, easiest, and most comfortable way to withdraw from opioid drugs.
Depending on the type of opioid you are detoxing from, detox usually lasts one week or less. While you don’t spend much time in the detox phase of treatment, it is an essential step in your healing because this is when your body starts becoming stabilized after months, years, or even decades of opioid abuse.
Individualized Treatment Plans
Once your body has overcome the acute phase of opioid withdrawal, you will move into the rehabilitation portion of your care. Opioids are highly addictive drugs, and opioid use disorder has a particularly high relapse rate. As a result, opioid addiction is usually treated at an inpatient rehab facility.
Inpatient opioid rehab programs in West Palm Beach are comprehensive, residential treatment programs that provide individualized care and evidence-based therapies. On your first day of rehab, you will meet with a member of the clinical team for an initial evaluation. This evaluation is intended to gather a comprehensive understanding of your addiction, your overall health, and your personal needs for the development of your treatment plan.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, effective treatment programs address the multiple needs of patients, not just their addictions.[2] You can expect your treatment plan to focus on various areas of your life that you struggle with, including medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. Your treatment plan should also be sensitive to your age, gender, ethnicity, and culture.
Your treatment plan may include any or all of the following services:
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Life skills therapy
- Case management
- Vocational training
- Family therapy groups
- Pain management
- Stress management
- Anger management
- Holistic therapies
- Trauma & PTSD therapy
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Addiction
Opioid rehab centers in West Palm Beach utilize medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in the treatment of opioid use disorder. MAT is a comprehensive approach that combines the use of medications (methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone) with behavioral therapies and counseling. The most popular prescription medications used to treat opioid addiction today are:
- Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone)
- Subutex (buprenorphine)
- Sublocade (buprenorphine-extended release)
- Vivitrol (naltrexone-extended release)
These medications help balance brain chemistry and reduce opioid cravings, allowing you to focus completely on your therapy sessions. When combined with a personalized substance abuse treatment program, these medications have many benefits, such as:[3]
- Decrease in illicit opioid use
- Increase in treatment retention
- Improved ability to gain and maintain employment
- Decrease in risky or criminal behaviors
- Reduce the risk of HIV/Hepatitis C
- Increase in patient survival after treatment
Group and Individual Therapies
Your days in rehab will be spent participating in a multitude of group and individual therapy sessions. Your one-on-one sessions are usually held on a weekly basis so you can touch base with your substance abuse counselor to evaluate your progress or address any personal concerns you may have. The majority of your time, however, will be spent in group therapy sessions.
Group therapy plays a major role in addiction treatment. Groups usually consist of one therapist and 6-12 group members. The therapist will introduce a topic and allow the group members to discuss their thoughts, experiences, and emotions surrounding the topic. Members bounce ideas off of one another, share experiences, and relate to one another.
Group therapy sessions have many rewarding benefits. They help reduce isolation, promote healthy communication, improve self-esteem, and enable group members to witness the recovery of others in real-time.[4] Group therapy can also help reduce feelings of depression, shame, and helplessness that often accompany opioid use disorder. Lastly, rehabilitation groups introduce the idea of positive peer pressure as members feel pressure from other members to abstain from drug use.
There are many different types of therapies that may be used during opioid rehab in West Palm Beach. Some of the most popular include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Psychoeducation
- Contingency Management (CM)
- 12-Step Facilitation Therapy
While medications used in MAT can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, these therapies help address the underlying causes of your opioid abuse. They also teach you how to identify triggers, prevent relapse, and cope with difficult emotions in a healthy way.
Aftercare Planning
Opioid addiction treatment programs usually last 90 days in total. However, 90 days will go by quickly, and you’ll never be completely cured of addiction. Instead, you need to have a plan that continues to address your changing needs in recovery. This plan is often referred to as an “aftercare plan.”
In the days and weeks prior to your discharge date, you will work with your substance abuse counselor to develop a detailed aftercare plan that meets your needs. Aftercare may involve:
- Outpatient rehab
- Sober living
- Alumni groups
- 12-Step participation
- Individual counseling
- Medication management
Find an Opioid Rehab Center in West Palm Beach Today
Overcoming opioid addiction isn’t easy, but it’s entirely possible with the help from our drug rehab program in West Palm Beach. Our comprehensive treatment services begin with detox and follow you all the way into aftercare. We continually reassess your treatment needs to provide custom-tailored care to you every step of the way.
If you or a loved one are addicted to opioids, give us a call today. We can help.
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