Opioid Treatment: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Understanding Opioid Addiction

What Is Opioid Use Disorder?

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is the chronic and problematic use of opioids. 

OUD is a type of substance use disorder that commonly begins with opioid use and progresses to drug abuse that negatively impacts an individual’s well-being.

When an individual is struggling with opioid use disorder, they are unable to control their use. This dependence has a significant negative impact on their lives and their loved ones.

How Addictive Are Opioids?

Opioids are highly addictive. 

Opioids rapidly change brain chemistry and cause a large release of dopamine. As a result, they quickly rewire and hijack the pleasure centers of the brain, causing dependence and addiction.

At Wellbridge, we understand the biological processes within addiction and offer detox and inpatient treatment programs that support lasting recovery.

How Common Is Opioid Addiction?

Millions of individuals struggle with opioid addiction annually. 

Opioid addiction can happen to anyone. As such, it is a major public health issue that impacts countless individuals and their loved ones.

At Wellbridge, we know that many men and women – including first responders and healthcare providers – have easy access to opioids. Access combined with high stress at work increases the risk of opioid abuse and addiction.

What Are Opioid Drugs?

Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription painkillers and illegal drugs like heroin. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids can be synthetic, natural, or semi-synthetic.

Can I Get Addicted to Prescription Opioids?

Yes, you can become dependent and addicted to prescription opioids. 

Prescription opioids are commonly prescribed to treat chronic pain, coughing, and diarrhea. However, a healthcare provider typically only prescribes opioids when significant health conditions warrant their use, as the risk of dependence is so high.

Despite their legality, the potency of prescription opioids still makes them highly addictive. Misusing a prescription one time can quickly spiral into a debilitating opioid addiction.

Signs & Symptoms of Opioid Addiction

What Are Common Signs of Opioid Abuse?

Common signs of opioid abuse include physical and mental/emotional changes.

Also, according to the Food and Drug Administration, physical changes may include constricted pupils, shallow breathing, sudden weight loss, and drowsiness. Psychological signs include unsuccessful attempts to decrease or stop the use of opioids, failure to keep up with responsibilities, mood swings, withdrawal from social circles, or doctor shopping.

What Are the Signs Opioids Are Affecting Your Brain?

When an opioid impacts an individual’s brain, it affects their thoughts and behaviors. 

Opioid abuse can cause confusion, lack of clear thinking, and lack of focus.

Additionally, opioid dependence or opioid use disorder (OUD) rewires the pleasure-seeking parts of the brain, causing intense cravings. As a result, an individual will begin to make different choices, such as stealing, lying, or choosing drug use over other personal or professional priorities.

What Are the Symptoms of Opioid Addiction?

When an individual is struggling with opioid addiction, the most common symptom is making an effort to cut down or quit opioid use without being able to. 

Other symptoms of opioid addiction may include mood swings and sudden changes in behavior. Additionally, individuals with mental health conditions commonly see an increase in mental health symptoms such as anxiety or depression.

What Opioids Are Commonly Misused?

Commonly abused opioids include opioids used for pain management or chronic pain, such as oxycodone, and illegal opioids, such as heroin. 

Other prescription opioids that are commonly misused include hydrocodone and fentanyl. Commonly misused illegal opioids include illicit fentanyl and heroin.

Intervention & Treatment

Why Does Early Intervention Matter in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment?

Early intervention often results in better treatment outcomes.

Opioid abuse also puts individuals at a high risk of overdose, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, for the sake of overdose prevention, it is important to address opioid use quickly.

Additionally, opioid addiction impacts individuals and their entire communities. Early treatment of opioid use disorder helps reduce the harm done to all involved.

If you or your loved one is struggling with opioid addiction, we can help. Wellbridge offers comprehensive treatment options that address the behavioral health challenges and root causes associated with opioid use disorder (OUD).

How Effective Are Opioid Treatment Programs?

Opioid treatment programs that employ evidence-based treatment methods are highly effective in treating opioid addiction. 

To effectively treat opioid use disorder and address the opioid epidemic, treatment programs need to incorporate evidence-based care, such as behavioral therapies.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and behavioral therapy are integral aspects of treatment at Wellbridge, helping patients address the root causes of their addiction, mental health symptoms, and physical health concerns.

How Do You Find the Right Opioid Use Disorder Treatment?

In order to find treatment that fits your needs, it is important to consider the level of care, type of therapeutic interventions, and location that are best suited to you. 

Working with a healthcare professional who offers care and support in a treatment program that meets your needs can help you build a foundation for long-term recovery.

At Wellbridge, we offer treatment that is easily accessible from NYC. Located just 71 miles from Manhattan, we offer addiction treatment programs for adult men and women that combine evidence-based therapies with holistic care.

Opioid Addiction Withdrawal & Medication-Assisted Treatment

What Are Common Withdrawal Symptoms of Opioid Addiction?

Common opioid withdrawal symptoms include muscle aches, cravings, diarrhea, and sweating. 

Many individuals also experience nausea, vomiting, insomnia or sleep disruption, and anxiety.

However, every experience of withdrawal is unique and will depend on the amount of a substance used, the length of substance use, mental health conditions, and other unique challenges, such as polysubstance use and physical health.

How Long Does Opioid Withdrawal Last?

Opioid withdrawal commonly starts about 6-24 hours after the last dose, peaks around 72 hours, and can last for a week or more. 

However, every individual’s withdrawal symptoms are unique. For example, one person may experience nausea and vomiting while another experiences severe anxiety.

At Wellbridge, we understand that withdrawal is dependent on several factors. Our treatment program addresses the symptoms that a patient presents with, offering support and care to keep them comfortable and safe through detox and treatment.

What Is MAT Opioid Treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications alongside behavioral therapy to treat opioid use disorder. 

Medications such as buprenorphine are commonly used to address intense cravings that occur in treatment. MAT medications bind to opioid receptors, acting as an opioid agonist and blocking an opiate or opioid that causes a high. Naltrexone and methadone are also used in MAT to reduce cravings.

Additional medications used in MAT include naloxone, which is a quick-acting medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid. It is used in the case of an opioid overdose and can greatly decrease the risk of overdose deaths.

How Effective Is Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Withdrawal?

MAT is a highly effective treatment for opioid withdrawal. 

By acting as a blocking agent for opioid receptors, medications such as naltrexone help decrease cravings. This allows patients the time and space they need to address underlying issues related to their thoughts, actions, behavior, and overall mental health that are impacting their challenges with opioid use disorder.

Medications that reduce cravings can be used during detox, inpatient treatment, and after, depending on the patient, their needs, and what a medical professional feels is best for their recovery.

At Wellbridge, we help patients use medications in ways that best support their long-term recovery.

What Are the Best MAT Medications for Opioid Addiction Treatment?

Commonly used MAT medications for OUD include buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone. 

Working with a provider is the best way to learn what medication will be most helpful for you.

For example, many medications are extended-release, meaning they provide longer-lasting relief from cravings. This helps provide relief over a longer period of time.

Will I Require Medication?

Addiction medication is commonly used in detox and inpatient treatment for opioid addiction, but not everyone will need it. 

At Wellbridge, our clinicians strive to provide individualized care that is effective in treating the immediate challenges and the underlying causes of addiction. We utilize medications for patients who may need them within a structured treatment plan that addresses root causes while building skills essential for long-term recovery.

Continuing Opioid Treatment Following Detox

What Are Some Forms of Treatment and Therapies for Opioid Addiction?

MAT and behavioral therapies are the core of opioid addiction treatment. 

Behavioral therapies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) help address patterns associated with drug use. These therapies help patients identify issues and build skills that support long-term recovery.

At Wellbridge, we offer behavioral therapies, MAT, and other holistic, evidence-based treatments. Our goal is to help our patients achieve long-term recovery.

How Effective Are Different Therapies for Opioid Addiction?

MAT and behavioral therapies are highly effective for treating opioid addiction. 

However, every patient has unique needs. What works for one person may not work for another. For example, one patient may need opioid medication to curb their cravings, while another patient has success managing cravings through work done in therapy.

At Wellbridge, we offer individualized programs that weave together MAT, DBT, CBT, group therapy, and holistic interventions. The best therapies are those that address each patient’s needs and fit into a treatment plan that helps them build skills for successful long-term recovery.

How Effective Are Opioid Treatment Programs in Reducing Addiction?

Opioid treatment programs are highly effective for recovery.

Recovery from opioid addiction requires continuous effort. However, an effective treatment program has professionals who offer patients and their family members a chance to heal and rebuild.

At Wellbridge, we know that treatment for substance use disorders is just the beginning, and we strive to educate and heal so that patients can return to their lives and successfully support their recovery.

Long-Term Treatment & Recovery

What Is Long-Term Opioid Therapy?

Long-term opioid therapy is the use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. 

However, opioids are highly addictive, and chronic use of opioids can lead to substance abuse and dependence. Working with a health care provider who understands your unique needs is important in learning about the possible side effects of long-term opioid therapy.

Can Family Help With Recovery?

Yes, family support is extremely important in recovery.

At Wellbridge, we believe that family support is essential in treatment. Therefore, we offer family programs to help family members understand their loved one’s treatment needs.

Additionally, family therapy offers individuals and their family members the opportunity to heal their relationships.

What Are Relapse Prevention Strategies I Can Use?

Effective relapse prevention strategies include learning about triggers, building a community of support, and utilizing tools learned in treatment. 

At Wellbridge, we understand that patients will return to their everyday lives after treatment. Therefore, we incorporate relapse prevention strategies from the first day of treatment. We help patients learn about patterns that result in substance use, teaching them skills to avoid triggers or change their patterns as they relate to triggers.

Additionally, we know that a supportive community helps prevent relapse. As a result, we offer skill-building to help patients build a community within and after treatment that will support their long-term recovery.

How Important Is Aftercare and Community Support?

Aftercare and community support are extremely important in recovery. 

Addiction can feel isolating, and many patients seek solitude in recovery due to shame. However, community support helps reduce shame, improve visibility of challenges, and offers new options when challenges arise. Through community support, patients learn that they are not alone in recovery.

At Wellbridge, we offer aftercare and community support. We pride ourselves on the community we have built and offer continuing care to every individual who crosses our threshold.

FAQs

Do medications for opioid use disorder interfere with pain treatment?

Some medications used for opioid use disorder interfere with opioids that are being used to treat pain.

However, medication interactions are complex. Working with a health professional is the best course of action when using medication.

At Wellbridge, we help patients through the complexities of medication management. We use several medications and work with patients to provide individualized care that considers pain management.

Do opioids permanently change your brain?

Long-term and chronic use of opioids causes changes in the brain that can be short-term, long-lasting, or potentially permanent. 

Opioids flood the brain with dopamine, which results in the pleasure-seeking parts of the brain being rewired and decreasing natural dopamine production. As a result, opioid use disorder is a chronic relapsing disorder, due to the brain needing opioids to feel normal.

Additional changes in the brain may include alterations in grey and white matter, which affect decision-making, emotional regulation, and communication.

Can your brain recover from long-term opioid use?

Yes, the brain can recover from long-term opioid use.

Detox and treatment are the first steps in addressing these physical changes that occur in the brain. However, the changes that occur in the brain are often long-lasting.

After treatment, it often takes months or years for the brain to recover. However, because of the brain’s plasticity, it can undergo significant change. As a result, continued abstinence through the necessary support and behavioral changes gives the brain a chance to recover from opioid use.

Every individual’s path to recovery is unique, including their brain’s recovery. At Wellbridge, we offer holistic, evidence-based treatment to help restore brain function.

Is Suboxone a lifelong medication?

Suboxone can be a lifelong medication for individuals in recovery. 

Medication use in treatment and recovery is unique to each patient. However, Suboxone is a medication that reduces cravings and is safe to stay on long-term.

Working with a counselor is the best way to learn about how medication can help your recovery journey. Simply because you can stay on Suboxone long-term does not mean it is the right choice for you. Recovery is an individualized journey.

What is the hardest opioid to quit?

Heroin, an illegal opioid, is often the most difficult to quit using. 

According to the CDC, opioids, as a class of drugs, are highly addictive and difficult to stop using.

The process of healing commonly includes detox and inpatient treatment at a qualified health center. Detox helps patients begin to recover physically, taking the first step on the road to recovery. Inpatient treatment that incorporates MAT, behavioral therapies, and community support helps patients learn about their unique triggers and build skills to support long-term recovery.

While heroin is the most difficult opioid to stop using, it is not impossible. At Wellbridge, we know that with the right structured treatment program and support network, long-term recovery from heroin addiction and other opioid use disorders is possible.