Remember that drug addicts can be very crafty people. Above all else, they want to make sure their loved ones and friends do not know they are using dangerous substances, possibly out of a sense of self-denial and guilt. After all, what you can’t see can’t hurt you, right? In short, you may have a hard time determining if you loved one is suffering from opioid addiction, mostly because a large portion of these drugs are 100% legal and prescribed by doctors. Finding a pill bottle on a nightstand or in a medicine cabinet is not always a huge indicator of a drug problem. Nevertheless, certain behaviors and habits might raise a few red flags. Here is how you can help a family member who is addicted to opioids.
A Painful Disease
As confirmed by the American Medical Association, drug addiction of any sort is a severe, chronic mental illness and not a lifestyle choice or weakness of character. Over the course of the ensuing decades, medical professionals have continued to back this notion by developing a multifactorial model of substance use disorders (based on factors like genetics, environment, and other elements). Although scientists have not yet discovered any legitimate cause for this illness, they have confirmed that certain people naturally have weaknesses that place them at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders than other people (in the same manner as cancer or diabetes).
Helping Your Loved One Find Treatment
Overall, a variety of treatment options are available for your family member. Here are some of the most effective examples:
- Buprenorphine: The first step may involve outpatient medication-based treatment with buprenorphine, a sublingual drug (placed beneath the tongue) that blocks opioids receptors and (therefore) the effects of opioids. As a result, you family member will no longer experience particularly uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal.
- Methadone: Doctors may administer methadone (a synthetic opioid that reduces “highs”) via intravenous routes (injections), liquid formulas, or tablets. Typical medication-based treatment with this drug will last 12 months.
- 12-Step Program: By taking part in mutual support groups (specifically Narcotics Anonymous), your loved ones will learn how to control their sickness and find camaraderie with other addicts, creating a unified cycle of aid.
Seeking Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Opioids are extremely potent and dangerous drugs that have a high risk for abuse and addiction and can be particularly dangerous for both adults and teens alike. These substances can trigger severe dependency and a string of unpleasant health problems (including residual pain) as well. Although these drugs can easily help people cope with severe pain, opioids are still dangerous and have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. If you have a history of substance abuse or addiction, we recommend you find an alternative to opioids. In the even that you are suffering from opioid use disorder, though, understand that you can always find the help you need.
Are you suffering from a severe case of opioid addiction? Do you have a friend or a family member who is coping with one of these issues, as well? On both accounts, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward combating the Opioid Crisis.
