How to Treat Opioid Addiction

Substance misuse with opioids can begin after a medical procedure or with the use of recreational drugs. Many people use these substances to deal with stress or chronic pain. While you may think that your opioid use is under control, a physical and psychological addiction can quickly leave you caught in a web of dependence and cravings.

If you’re ready to break this cycle and reclaim your life, there are many treatments available for opioid addiction. Some rely on total abstinence. Other opioid addiction programs recognize that substance use disorder is a disease and use medications to help people transition from a life of addiction to freedom in recovery. Whether you choose an inpatient program or an outpatient solution like BAART Programs, medication-assisted treatment is considered one of the most effective options in the fight against opioid addiction.

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a science-driven solution that has helped many people break free from opioid addiction since the 1950s. This form of treatment uses specialized medicines in combination with counseling to help people overcome opiate use disorder and live happier, more productive lives. Only a certified opioid treatment program (OTP) can provide patients with medications.

BAART Programs is an OTP that’s been providing individuals with personalized treatment plans for nearly 40 years. In addition to providing patients with effective medications, we use proven tools such as counseling and harm reduction techniques to help those caught in opioid addiction reclaim their lives.

Medicines Used to Treat Opioid Addiction

The FDA currently approves three drugs to treat opioid addiction — methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. When you begin treatment at BAART Programs, we’ll start with a comprehensive medical assessment that will help us decide which medicine is the right option for your unique needs.

• Methadone: Methadone is a full agonist opioid that attaches fully to the opioid receptors in the brain. At the right daily amount, this medicine eliminates physical withdrawal symptoms and helps control cravings so individuals can begin to repair the damage done by addiction.
• Buprenorphine: This medication is a partial opioid agonist and does not activate the opioid receptors in the brain to the same extent as methadone. As a result, buprenorphine has a “ceiling effect,” restricting its ability to produce euphoria while still preventing debilitating withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• Suboxone^®: Buprenorphine with naloxone, also known by the brand name Suboxone^®, provides all the benefits of buprenorphine while also blocking the effects of other opioids if taken illicitly while a patient is undergoing MAT.

Harm Reduction Tools Used in Conjunction With MAT

Due to the chronic nature of opioid use disorder, counseling and other harm reduction tools help those recovering from substance misuse gain the skills they need to heal and rebuild their lives. Active addiction impacts nearly every part of your life — your physical, mental and emotional health, your career and your closest relationships. BAART Programs provides proven techniques that can help you get your life back on track, including:

• Case management throughout the program.
• Individualized counseling, such as motivational interviewing and group counseling.
• Addiction education.
• Life skills education.
• Relapse prevention.
• Integrated primary and behavioral health care.
• Discharge planning, including referral services.

Find an Opioid Treatment Program Near You

If you’re ready to end the cycle of addiction and reclaim your life, BAART Programs can help. We treat opioid addiction using medication-assisted treatment combined with supportive addiction counseling and a wide variety of personalized harm reduction tools. We invite you to find a location near you and begin your journey to recovery.