Using a drug to help someone overcome opioid abuse sounds counterproductive, right? Well, contrary to how it sounds, medication-assisted treatment for drug addiction is extremely beneficial.
Whether you’re seeking inpatient rehabilitation or the help of a suboxone clinic, these medications are specifically designed to help you overcome the detox process. All in all, this gives you a better chance of fully recovering from opioid abuse and beginning the road to recovery.
Here’s why using suboxone is such a beneficial part of a recovery treatment plan.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): What To Know
So, what does MAT entail, anyway? Many outpatient rehab centers, along with suboxone clinics offer the use of medication, counseling, and behavioral therapy to help you overcome addiction.
MAT is especially helpful for those trying to overcome serious or long-term addiction to opioids. This is because the all-important detox process is difficult to withstand on its own. But with the help of medication such as suboxone, it gives you a better chance of enduring the physical side effects of withdrawal.
Not only this, but medication-assisted treatment helps to re-route brain function after long-term addiction. It also assists in the alleviation of cravings, which reduces instances of drug relapse.
What Exactly Is Suboxone Treatment?
It is a combination of pharmaceutical drugs. It’s comprised of both naloxone and buprenorphine, primarily used to treat addicts in the early stages of their drug rehabilitation program. Suboxone is not only important at the beginning, but is part of the treatment plan until the end.
The function of buprenorphine and naloxone is complex. But overall, they both work together to minimize and control withdrawal symptoms from opioids.
In short, buprenorphine acts as an agonist — it interacts with opioid receptors in the brain, just like other opiates would. This is beneficial because it creates a ”blanket” effect that addicts are familiar with. However, with a far weaker intensity.
Naloxone, on the other hand, is an opioid antagonist. Its key role is to block the effects of opioid receptors in the brain.
What To Look For in a Suboxone Clinic
When looking for an appropriate suboxone clinic, here’s what you want to consider:
- Do they take health insurance and what type of insurance plans do they accept?
- Does the clinic offer any form of financing/financial resources to help you out?
- What type of medicated-assisted treatment is on offer?
- How qualified are the staff at the clinic and how much medical support do they offer?
- How long is the suboxone treatment and what is the recommended amount of time for using this medication?
If you or a loved one is serious about overcoming their addiction, it’s imperative that you choose the right outpatient program and suboxone treatment. Bear in mind that not all outpatient treatment programs offer the use of suboxone. So, before you choose your outpatient center, do some research beforehand.
So, with all of the above in mind, how can you actually benefit from detoxing with suboxone? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Let’s take a look at the top five benefits:
1. It Promotes Secure Withdrawal
It’s no secret that the detox and subsequent withdrawal symptoms from opioids are brutal. This is one of the main reasons that many opioid addicts fail to complete rehabilitation or relapse.
As mentioned before, detoxing with the help of suboxone offers relief from these intense symptoms. While also regulating chemical imbalances in the brain that control yearnings/cravings.
2. It Decreases the Risk of Overdose
An unfortunate reality of the opioid withdrawal and detox process is the risk of relapse and overdose. When cravings for a drug become so intense due to uncontrollable withdrawal, a number of addicts tend to relapse back into opioids.
Many of them end up overdoing it, taking a higher dose/hit than usual. The end result often leads to overdose and a comatose state, or sometimes, death.
Yes, this makes opioid detox and withdrawal sound very risky. But with the help of medication, such as suboxone, the withdrawal process is controlled. Overall, this decreases the risk of overdose and any other unfortunate health implications.
3. It Boosts Therapy Retention
With the assistance of medication, you have a better chance, overall, of getting off to the right start in your recovery. It controls the process of detoxification and withdrawals, helping you overcome this massive first hurdle.
Once you’re past the withdrawal stage, you’re already on the right track to making a full recovery. This means that you’re more likely to view your recovery with a fresh state of mind and sense of commitment.
This improves your chances of returning for important therapy sessions to help you learn about your addiction, overcome trauma, learn your triggers, and how to manage them.
4. It Stabilizes Your Brain Chemistry
Addiction is, essentially, a disease of the mind. This is because addiction physically alters the chemistry in your brain, especially over the long term. For those who’ve battled opioid addiction for many years, suboxone treatment is incredibly helpful and important.
All in all, the use of medication helps to re-regulate brain chemistry during your detox process. This leads to better control over your symptoms and a better chance of making a full recovery. Not only this, but it also reduces the craving to use other controlled substances and the impending legal effects, too.
5. It Prevents Recovery Regression
Many people attempting to overcome opioid addiction have done so not once, twice, or even three times. But dozens of times, particularly for those with long-term addiction. The difference when incorporating a medicated detox is that it sets you up with a better chance, right from the start.
This helps to reduce instances of regression during your recovery. The road to full recovery is long and it’s full of obstacles. But with the right start and a solid foundation, you have a better chance of seeing your recovery and therapy through to the end.
Looking for a Reliable Suboxone Clinic?
If you or a loved one needs help overcoming an opioid addiction, you’re already in the right place. We offer a range of treatment options to help find the road to recovery and stick to it for the long term.
We offer an outpatient drug rehab program specifically tailored to opioid use disorder. Coupled with suboxone treatment for a better chance at a full recovery. Explore the rest of this website for more!
The post 5 Benefits of Using a Suboxone Clinic in Your Treatment Plan appeared first on Recovery Delivered.
