There are treatments available including detoxification programs, inpatient facilities, and outpatient therapy.
Detoxification is the withdrawing from the opioid, usually slowly and with the correct medication under supervision. There are several drugs that may be prescribed to help with the withdrawal symptoms. These include methadone, buprenorphine or suboxone.
After the detox program has been completed patients are referred to outpatient programs or residential rehab centers. Rehab can last for between 30 – 90 days and much of the time is spent in individual and group therapy sessions.
Medication-assisted treatment
There is also medication-assisted treatment which is used to help with opioid dependence. This treatment is proving popular as it looking at addiction through a medical lens, treating it as a chronic illness like diabetes, cancer or heart disease.
The prescribed medication allows the addict to regain a normal state of mind, without cravings, withdrawals and the drug-induced highs and lows.Contrary to popular belief, taking one medication for opioid abuse is not the same as substituting one addictive drug for another, something that has happened in the past.
