An opioid addiction can destroy your life if left untreated. The sooner you get started treating your opioid addiction, the sooner you can get sober and live a happy, drug-free, life. The first step to getting the appropriate treatment is recognizing what addiction is and how it negatively impacts your life. Once you come to terms with the fact that yes, you are an addict and it doesn’t have to be a death sentence, you can start treating your addiction! In the blog below we’ll discuss signs of an opioid addiction and how to determine the right course of treatment for you.
How to Know When You Need Help
Once you learn what the symptoms are of an opioid addiction, you can determine if and when you need help.
Exceeding prescribed dosage
If you started taking opioids because they’re prescribed to you, a good way to tell if you’re abusing them is if you’re taking more than what’s prescribed. You should never exceed the recommended dose so this can be a key indicator of addiction.
Taking pain medication when you’re not experiencing pain
Opioids that are prescribed to treat pain should not be used when pain isn’t present. If you find yourself taking them every day, either out of habit, or intentionally, you could be facing an opioid addiction. These types of drugs were not created for long term use.
Starting to feel ‘out of it’ or in a haze
Another way to tell if you’re abusing opioids is if you start to take too much consistently and feel like you’re in a haze or inebriated. Again, opioids are prescribed to mitigate pain, not to get intoxicated. If you feel like you’re taking them because you like the feeling of ‘being high’, you may be addicted.
Exploring Your Treatment Options
Once you have recognized that you have a problem, you need to decide upon the best treatment for your situation. The optimal treatment for your needs depends on a variety of factors such as length of addiction, severity, personal and professional commitments, and preferences.
The following are a few drug addiction treatment options you can consider pursuing:
Detoxification treatment
Some type of detoxification treatment is essential to getting over any drug addiction. Detoxification consists of clearing the body of the drug in question. Detoxification usually involves overcoming any withdrawal symptoms that are present.
Detoxing in the midst of a drug addiction can be challenging. However, there are certain medications that can help including clonidine, methadone, and buprenorphine. These drugs can help prevent or minimize withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to note that trying to detox on your own can cause severe health complications. If you need to detox, please do so under the care of medical professionals.
Inpatient treatment
Inpatient treatment means staying at the treatment center for a period of time, usually 30-60 days, and completing various addiction therapies while building a sober support system. Doctors and counselors will carefully observe your behaviors to help you overcome addiction for good.
Aside from addiction, inpatient treatment usually helps you with getting physically healthy as well. Diet and exercise is encouraged for all clients.
Outpatient treatment
Addicts experiencing less severe addictions can often get the treatment they need through outpatient treatment. A client undergoing outpatient treatment can live at home and may even be able to continue working. Outpatient treatment includes individual and group therapy sessions.
This is also a good option for someone seeking sobriety who is also a sole caregiver.
Aftercare treatment
Aftercare treatment helps to prevent relapses. During inpatient and outpatient treatment, you’ll learn the coping skills necessary to live a drug and alcohol free life. Aftercare helps reinforce these ideologies because recovery is a lifelong journey. Treatment will get you sober, but it’s up to you every day after that to stay sober.
Lifestyle Adjustments to Maintain Sobriety
In addition to seeking treatment, people facing opioid addiction must adjust their lifestyles to overcome it. Numerous lifestyle adjustments can help someone stay sober.
One of the most important lifestyle adjustments is avoiding the temptation by cutting any reminders of opioid use out of your life. Making new friends and attending support groups such as a 12-step meeting are great ways to build a sober support group. Developing healthy hobbies like exercise and meditation will also help keep you sober. You are not alone in this process; millions worldwide have battled or are currently battling addiction. Even some celebrities have suffered from addiction and have found the resources needed to enter into long-lasting recovery.
Getting Started with Treatment
At Enlight Treatment Center, we are a dual-diagnosis rehab program. We help our clients overcome addiction and any co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or depression. We’re located in Moorpark, CA, and are dedicated to helping any and all addicts. If you or a loved one is struggling with an opioid addiction, please contact us today.
