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Opioid addiction affects millions of people in the United States, with rates continuing to rise. Many hold the belief that a person they know and love would never abuse drugs, but opioids are uniquely dangerous because they can be acquired legally and for legitimate medical reasons. Most people struggling with an opioid addiction start with a doctor’s prescription and don’t realize they are abusing the drug until a strong dependency has formed.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that between 21-29% of those who receive opioid prescriptions end up misusing them, and up to 12% develop an addiction. A shocking 80% of people who turn to heroin started with prescription opioids first — so arresting opioid abuse as early as possible is crucial.
Opioid addiction is one of the most serious addictions a family member or loved one can face, with effects that reach beyond chemical dependence. As addiction progresses, you will see broad and deep changes in your loved one that cause worry and heartache as you navigate your relationship. You want the best for the important people in your life, and that means doing everything you can to get them opioid addiction help.
The goal of getting help for opioid addiction is to establish a long-term treatment plan and develop the mindset and skills to maintain recovery.
As a friend or family member, you are more likely to notice and acknowledge signs of addiction than your loved one. In the early stages, you may not recognize particular behaviors as signs of a dangerous dependence. Signs of addiction don’t always appear at once, so you may have trouble pinpointing them. Look out for:
Addiction often looks like a strange shift in personality. Happy-go-lucky individuals become moody and withdrawn. Active people lose all interest in exercise. Social butterflies stop leaving the house. In other words, the person seems to stop being themselves. If you notice a personality change in your loved one, accompanied by any of the above signs, they may be struggling with opioid addiction. What should you do next?
The first step to addiction recovery is to bring the drug abuse to light. As a friend or family member, the most challenging task is getting your loved one with opioid addiction to examine their consumption and reach the conclusion that abuse has become full-fledged addiction. Denial is a critical factor in the development of addiction, so getting through to your loved one requires a delicate approach. Try these tips to defuse the situation and open an honest dialogue:
A loved one with opioid addiction is much more likely to respond positively to a combination of these three approaches than to any single one by itself. As a friend or family member, this delicate balancing act may be difficult, and not every individual will respond to a one-on-one conversation. Addiction tells people there’s nothing wrong, and convincing them may take more coordinated action.
In such cases, you may want to consult a trained interventionist. These professionals can provide specific techniques you can use to make the conversation go as smoothly as possible, and often guide group interventions. Having an impartial expert on the scene helps your loved one feel less attacked, and it gives you an extra measure of confidence in your words and actions.
When someone chooses to seek opioid addiction help, they’re making an emotionally-charged decision. They may feel overwhelmed and afraid, and your support can be critical. Many friends and family members aren’t sure how to help with opioid addiction. Researching treatment methods with your loved one is a great place to start. They will have to choose from two forms of treatment:
Both forms of treatment have the option of an inpatient or outpatient experience, depending on the needs of the individual.
In recent years, MAT has emerged as the most effective method of treating opioid addiction. MAT reduces improper use of opioids and increases the chances of a patient continuing their treatment plan. When MAT became available in Baltimore, Maryland, the number of deaths from heroin overdose plummeted by 37%. MAT using methadone is currently the “gold standard” of opioid addiction treatment.
Medication-assisted treatment is the best option for anyone struggling to beat opioid addiction. Methadone emerged as an opioid addiction treatment in 1937, as two German scientists worked to create a painkiller less addictive than morphine. After World War II, methadone found wide use as an analgesic, but its efficacy as an opioid addiction treatment aid quickly became apparent.
Methadone works because it shields patients from the worst of withdrawal symptoms, including:
These symptoms are unpleasant, to say the least, and have the potential to derail a recovery before it even begins. Even someone with full intent to commit to recovery may find withdrawal symptoms too much to handle. That’s where methadone comes in.
Methadone is a full opioid agonist. That means it acts on the same mu-opioid receptors as drugs like heroin or oxycodone, but without delivering the same high. Instead, methadone blocks the action of other opioids. If someone takes another opioid while receiving methadone treatment, they will not receive any of the euphoric effects that led them to abuse drugs in the first place. By blocking pleasure from other opioids, methadone greatly reduces drug cravings.
As an analgesic, methadone also alters the physical response to pain. This makes withdrawal manageable for the patient, allowing them to focus on their treatment rather than surviving the symptoms.
Part of methadone’s efficacy comes from its long-lasting effects. Its action usually spans between 24-36 hours, as opposed to the two-hour window of heroin. The long duration of methadone eliminates the roller coaster highs and lows of other opioids, increasing emotional stability in patients. Patients must take their methadone every day for a period determined by their physician. This process is called “methadone maintenance.”
A loved one or friend with opioid addiction is probably nervous and wondering what to expect from a methadone treatment program. Developing a general idea of the steps involved will instill the confidence necessary to enter treatment with their best foot forward. Three stages define the progress of methadone maintenance treatment:
MAT programs should support the whole person on medical and psychological levels for the most successful outcomes, so be sure to choose a program that prioritizes respectful individual care. Health Care Resource Centers provides premier quality care in multiple locations across New England and has affiliate locations all over the United States.
While a friend or family member is getting help for opioid addiction, your support is more crucial than ever. You may not know exactly how to help with opioid addiction recovery, but these three tips are a wonderful place to start:
Positivity and open communication are the best ways for you to help a friend or family member in recovery, but you don’t need to provide all the support on your own. Physicians at Health Care Resource Centers are also trained to provide counseling for your loved one with opioid addiction.
Dually trained doctors are a win for patients in recovery. Consolidating medical expertise with clinical ability in one professional saves time and increases consistency during treatment.
Ready to explore getting help for opioid addiction in a friend or family member? Educate yourself with these resources:
Recovery is within reach. To begin getting help for your friend or family member with opioid addiction, take the first step and contact Health Care Resource Centers. Our caring professionals can answer your questions and address your concerns about quality addiction treatment.
