Opiates are among the most commonly abused drugs worldwide. They are also among those that cause the highest levels of addictions as evidenced by the increased relapses among patients that have undergone addiction therapy. In spite of this, an equally high number of people have been able to free themselves from these substances thanks to their strong will and strong social support. There are several things on opiate addiction treatment Georgia patients need to understand.
The treatment modalities of opiate addiction are in two major groups: pharmacological drugs and behavioral therapies. Both of these methods are effective and as a matter of fact they are often used alongside each other. Commonly, drugs are used first to manage the intensive phase of treatment and the behavioral interventions introduced later as a complementary intervention. The therapy itself is divided into three major phases.
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.
The use of opiates is often associated with dependence particularly for the long term users. When one is dependent on a drug, they are unable to perform their daily chores normally until they take the substance. In view of this challenge, it has been recommended that alternatives be provided in the initial phase of treatment to help recovering addicts cope. A drug known as methadone has been shown to be quite useful for this. Others are naltrexone and buprenorphine.
Therapy proper follows the chemical withdrawal stage. The main activity here is counseling. The patient will be enrolled for regular counseling sessions that are done both at individual level and at group level. At individual level, the therapist will seek to establish the cause of the problem and together with the addict come up with strategies that help in reducing the desire for the substances. Group therapy mainly helps in instilling coping skills.
One of the trends that are being adopted is the use of residential homes in therapy. Such a setting enables the patients to enjoy the comfort of a home even as they undergo treatment. They are exposed to recreational activities such as swimming, running, cycling, yoga and meditation among others. This arrangement has been shown to reduce dependence and expedite the recovery process.
The third and final step of therapy is the maintenance stage. This is the long term plan of management and starts as soon as one is released from the inpatient facility. It may last for months or years depending on the response that is exhibited by the recovering addict. The patient will be required to make regular clinic visits for assessment on their progressive. Treatment approaches may be changed or modified during such visits.
Behavioral therapy remains the main form of treatment during the maintenance stage. The aim of this stage is to cement the gains that have been made in the other stages and to discourage relapse. Social support is important here since the patient will be spending more time with their relatives than with their healthcare providers.
The treatment modalities of opiate addiction are in two major groups: pharmacological drugs and behavioral therapies. Both of these methods are effective and as a matter of fact they are often used alongside each other. Commonly, drugs are used first to manage the intensive phase of treatment and the behavioral interventions introduced later as a complementary intervention. The therapy itself is divided into three major phases.
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.
The use of opiates is often associated with dependence particularly for the long term users. When one is dependent on a drug, they are unable to perform their daily chores normally until they take the substance. In view of this challenge, it has been recommended that alternatives be provided in the initial phase of treatment to help recovering addicts cope. A drug known as methadone has been shown to be quite useful for this. Others are naltrexone and buprenorphine.
Therapy proper follows the chemical withdrawal stage. The main activity here is counseling. The patient will be enrolled for regular counseling sessions that are done both at individual level and at group level. At individual level, the therapist will seek to establish the cause of the problem and together with the addict come up with strategies that help in reducing the desire for the substances. Group therapy mainly helps in instilling coping skills.
One of the trends that are being adopted is the use of residential homes in therapy. Such a setting enables the patients to enjoy the comfort of a home even as they undergo treatment. They are exposed to recreational activities such as swimming, running, cycling, yoga and meditation among others. This arrangement has been shown to reduce dependence and expedite the recovery process.
The third and final step of therapy is the maintenance stage. This is the long term plan of management and starts as soon as one is released from the inpatient facility. It may last for months or years depending on the response that is exhibited by the recovering addict. The patient will be required to make regular clinic visits for assessment on their progressive. Treatment approaches may be changed or modified during such visits.
Behavioral therapy remains the main form of treatment during the maintenance stage. The aim of this stage is to cement the gains that have been made in the other stages and to discourage relapse. Social support is important here since the patient will be spending more time with their relatives than with their healthcare providers.
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