Opiate addiction treatment is commonly thought to only consist of the use of the medication methadone. Methadone is not the only available medication for opiate addiction treatment and treatment consists of other methods of care beyond medication, including psychotherapy.
Opiate Addiction Treatment Methods
Methadone is the most well-known method for opiate addiction treatment; however, medication is not the only aspect of treatment. Opiate addiction treatment also consists of psychotherapy, lifestyle counseling, stress management, relapse prevention strategies and support group meetings, just to name a few methods.
Psychotherapy can be helpful for opiate addiction treatment as clients work to uncover their underlying, personal causes for their addictions. Psychotherapy sessions may include one-on-one therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy. Family therapy is important for achieving healthy family dynamics in the home, a critical factor for the short-term and long-term success of recovery.
Lifestyle counseling helps clients of opiate addiction treatment learn to shape their lives in healthy and productive manners. The lifestyle of addiction needs to go and be replaced with a lifestyle conducive to recovery and good health. Clients learn what changes they may make to improve their lives and they are encouraged to make these changes based on their personal tastes, interests and hobbies.
The goal is not to change the client but to improve the client’s life and help them to enter a stable recovery process. Stress management helps clients of opiate addiction treatment learn how to effectively deal with stress – a major trigger for substance use. Stress management techniques may be any such actions as doing breathing exercises, practicing yoga, playing sports, exercising, journaling or meditating.
Relapse prevention strategies are specific plans for avoiding triggers such as stress, boredom, known places for drug use, sources for drugs and others. Clients outline exactly what they plan to do to avoid these triggers as even minimal exposure to triggers today can set a client up for a relapse at another point in time even if not right away. Relapse prevention strategies are meant to be used every day. They keep clients active in opiate addiction treatment similarly to regularly attending support group meetings.
Medications for Opiate Addiction Treatment
Medication is one aspect of opiate addiction treatment although methadone is not the only option. Other medications that may be used in opiate addiction treatment include buprenorphine and naltrexone. The medications have different purposes such as working on assisting with some of the physical addiction cravings to opiates and assisting with withdrawal symptoms. Any medication should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.
If you or someone you love is having problems with alcohol abuse, chemical dependency or addiction, recovery from a drug abuse program, like the one at Destination Hope, may be the answer. Remember that recovery from addiction and alcohol abuse treatment means learning how to cope with intensely emotional situations, and identifying when you need help and support. Treatment for addiction relapse, counseling, and aftercare can help you do this, so please call us today. Destination Hope is a full-service addiction and health treatment facility in Florida for men and women who suffer from substance abuse and behavioral health issues.
