Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Over 1.4 million Americans struggle with an opioid addiction for painkillers. Over the last several decades, opioid addictions have led to a crisis of overdose deaths from prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl. Treating opioid addiction requires measures slightly different from other drugs because of the withdrawal symptoms and the neurological changes that opioids have.
Ritual Recovery is a trusted drug rehab in North Carolina. Contact our admissions team today to find comprehensive substance abuse treatment in North Carolina.
What is Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction?
MAT for opioid addiction is a form of detox that involves FDA-approved medications and is specifically designed to help manage withdrawal symptoms from opioids.
The FDA has approved three medications for use in opioid treatment:
- Buprenorphine: This drug is used to suppress and reduce opioid cravings.
- Methadone: This drug is used to reduce opioid cravings and block the effects of opioids after withdrawal.
- Naltrexone: This drug is used to block the sedative and euphoric effects of opioids to prevent any euphoric feelings should an individual use opioids after their initial withdrawal.
Do I Really Need MAT for Opioid Addiction?
Yes, medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction is the safest and most successful way of moving through your withdrawal. For those who try to consider alternatives or at-home withdrawal treatments, there are serious risks of medical complications.
Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal
How is it life-threatening? Opioid withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe flu-like symptoms that include things such as:
- Nausea
- Fever
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Muscle aches
At face value, none of these seem particularly dangerous, but the vomiting and diarrhea, if left untreated, can result in severe dehydration. This can cause hypernatremia, which is an elevated blood sodium level. Left unchecked, this can result in subsequent heart failure.
This means that people can legitimately die from an opioid withdrawal, but these deaths are preventable with proper medication management at a qualified treatment center.
Can I Manage Medications Myself?
No, part of medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction is that the FDA-approved medications are only to be administered by qualified, licensed facilities. You cannot obtain the medication and go through withdrawal yourself at your house.
Another aspect of using MAT for opioid addiction is that you have to commit to ongoing therapy and continuing care while you use the second half of the medications, which can help with cravings after your initial withdrawal period is over.
This means you have to commit to a professional facility for your medication-assisted treatment and continue with ongoing therapy after you have made it through the withdrawal symptoms.
Benefits of Opioid MAT
When you work with a professional facility for medication-assisted treatment, you get the added benefit of being treated with medications that are individualized to offer the best form of psychosocial support. You might participate in services like medication management as well as supportive counseling or mental health services for co-occurring mental health disorders.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to addiction treatment, and if you are struggling with opioid addiction, medication-assisted treatment gives you a chance to find a medication that targets whatever symptoms are most difficult for you. You can also get medication management services that change the length of time you use different medications in order to improve your outcome.
You can enjoy access to peer support specialists, treatment for yourself that integrates family members in the form of family therapy, and access to holistic care like hiking and adventure therapy that help to rebuild parts of the brain and body that may have been damaged by opioids.
Opioid MAT with Ritual Recovery
We provide individualized treatment plans using a dynamic approach to healing and long-term recovery. We value community collaboration, which is why we draw from the best talent in our local area and utilize innovative ways to provide client care. Ensuring client safety and comfort during the initial stages of recovery is best done with medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, after which individuals can continue with the rest of their personalized therapeutic modalities.
After completing opioid MAT, you can participate in things like on-site hiking, family therapy sessions, access to TV streaming services, and other holistic addiction treatments. Our facility specializes in offering on-site activities and amenities like our library, basketball space, weight room, ping pong table, fire pit, cornhole, and musical instruments.
MAT for opioid addiction is the best way to get through withdrawal symptoms. Only with a licensed, qualified facility like Ritual Recovery, you can find opioid MAT with caring professionals who remain by your side. Reach out to our team to learn more about medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction and find addiction treatment in Asheville today.
