There is no doubt that opiates fall in the category of the most abused medical drugs. The level of addiction that results from their prolonged use is often quite difficult to break from. Relapses among addicts that have been treated are not uncommon. In spite of this, a strong will and a supportive social structure have helped many people regain control over their lives. There are a number of things on opiate addiction treatment Georgia patients need to know.
The therapies that are used in the management of this kind of addiction fall under two major categories. Pharmacological based therapies and behavioral therapies. The common practice is to use both of these methods concurrently so as to increase the chances of success. The drugs are used in the initial phases and the behavioral therapy interventions introduced later on. Three main stages of treatment exist.
The first step is where the addict is required to completely cease from using these substances. This is also known as chemical withdrawal or detoxification. This has to be carried out in a medical facility under close supervision of medical personnel. The stage is characterized by a number of withdrawal symptoms that are variable. They include, among others, depression, nausea, muscular pains and shaking among others.
Addiction to opiates is associated with a state of dependence. This simply means that affected persons find it extremely difficult to take part in any activity if they have not used the substances in question. These challenges can also be seen during therapy. This is why many of them will be put on drugs that produce the same effects as the opiates during the recovery period. Such will include, for example, buprenorphine, naltrexone and methadone.
Chemical withdrawal gives way to therapy proper, the second stage. Here, the addict is taken through various counseling sessions. These are usually done at individual level (individualized therapy) and at group level (group therapy). The objective is to identify the factors that contribute to the addiction and to formulate solutions for the same. The sharing of experiences that takes place during group therapy helps addicts to develop coping skills.
The use of residential homes in helping the addicts recover is a strategy that has readily been embraced. It has been shown that persons that are treated in such settings tend to exhibit better outcomes than those that are treated in the traditional restrictive environments. Perhaps the biggest contributing factor is the fact that there is an opportunity to take part in recreational activities and reduce dependence on the drugs.
The third step in the process is termed the maintenance step. As the name suggests, this step is designed for the long term and is initiated as soon as the patient leaves the therapy unit. Depending on the nature of the addiction, this step may last for months or even years. Regular visits to an outpatient rehabilitation center are needed to monitor the progress that being made by the patient.
Even if drugs are administered during the maintenance stage, the mainstay of therapy is behavioral therapy. The objective of this step is to help in mitigating against relapse which are quite common. Apart from the efforts that are made by the therapists, there is a need to have a strong social support structure bearing in mind that the patient is mainly treated from home.
The therapies that are used in the management of this kind of addiction fall under two major categories. Pharmacological based therapies and behavioral therapies. The common practice is to use both of these methods concurrently so as to increase the chances of success. The drugs are used in the initial phases and the behavioral therapy interventions introduced later on. Three main stages of treatment exist.
The first step is where the addict is required to completely cease from using these substances. This is also known as chemical withdrawal or detoxification. This has to be carried out in a medical facility under close supervision of medical personnel. The stage is characterized by a number of withdrawal symptoms that are variable. They include, among others, depression, nausea, muscular pains and shaking among others.
Addiction to opiates is associated with a state of dependence. This simply means that affected persons find it extremely difficult to take part in any activity if they have not used the substances in question. These challenges can also be seen during therapy. This is why many of them will be put on drugs that produce the same effects as the opiates during the recovery period. Such will include, for example, buprenorphine, naltrexone and methadone.
Chemical withdrawal gives way to therapy proper, the second stage. Here, the addict is taken through various counseling sessions. These are usually done at individual level (individualized therapy) and at group level (group therapy). The objective is to identify the factors that contribute to the addiction and to formulate solutions for the same. The sharing of experiences that takes place during group therapy helps addicts to develop coping skills.
The use of residential homes in helping the addicts recover is a strategy that has readily been embraced. It has been shown that persons that are treated in such settings tend to exhibit better outcomes than those that are treated in the traditional restrictive environments. Perhaps the biggest contributing factor is the fact that there is an opportunity to take part in recreational activities and reduce dependence on the drugs.
The third step in the process is termed the maintenance step. As the name suggests, this step is designed for the long term and is initiated as soon as the patient leaves the therapy unit. Depending on the nature of the addiction, this step may last for months or even years. Regular visits to an outpatient rehabilitation center are needed to monitor the progress that being made by the patient.
Even if drugs are administered during the maintenance stage, the mainstay of therapy is behavioral therapy. The objective of this step is to help in mitigating against relapse which are quite common. Apart from the efforts that are made by the therapists, there is a need to have a strong social support structure bearing in mind that the patient is mainly treated from home.
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