Over the past two or three decades, many conditions lead individuals to experience an opioid crisis in America. The opioid crisis in America affects people from all walks of life. From young teens to the elderly, it has truly made a mark on society. The rates of overdose and death have continued to rise, as has the number of people using opioids.
However, an opioid addiction treatment program can help you or your loved one get on the road to recovery.
Underlying Factors to the Opioid Crisis in America
Opioids are drugs that are either derived from a natural source like opium or are all or partially synthetic. Large pharmaceutical corporations design and manufacture them. During the 1990s, doctors were encouraged to prescribe them for the relief of both acute and chronic pain from various conditions. They were once believed to help patients in recovery from surgeries and other injuries.
The fact is, opioids are indeed useful when prescribed for pain relief. They do help patients ambulate earlier and regain strength after a severe injury or a major surgery. However, the opioid crisis in America results from both the over-prescription of these drugs and from these patients not taking them as directed. Other factors contribute to the opioid crisis in America, too, such as poor working conditions that have led to on-the-job injuries and limited access to proper medical care for those without insurance.
In addition to the over-prescription of opioids, there are other reasons the opioid crisis in America has become so severe. One of these is that patients who are prescribed opioids for pain relief often don’t take them as directed. They may take more pills than they’re supposed to or take them more often than they should.
How Opioids Affect The Brain
Opioids are useful for relieving pain. They attach to opioid receptors, which are proteins that are found in the brain. When they attach to these proteins, they block the neural transmission of pain messages to the brain so that pain is not felt. They also stimulate brain sites that produce feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. The prolonged use of opioids alters the balance of brain chemistry and creates a tolerance for the drug. When that happens, the patient needs a higher dose to create the same effect, and when they try to stop using it, the brain is unable to produce as many of the feel-good neurotransmitters, and the user craves the drug again.
There are severe withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal, including:
- Intense cravings for the drug
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Muscle aches
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
This imbalance of neurotransmitters causes them. Recovery from opioid addiction begins with detoxification. Some medications help the patient through the detox process and make it less distressing. After that, various therapeutic modalities and forms of support are recommended for continued recovery from the opioid crisis in America.
Therapy for Opioid Addiction Recovery
One form of therapy that can be used in addiction recovery is music therapy. There are many reasons why music therapy for addiction recovery is compelling. First of all, it empowers the patient to get in tune with and to express emotions that he or she may find it difficult to feel or express. Music therapy for addiction recovery can also create connections with others who participate in the treatment. This can give patients a way to create something. Creating music can raise the sense of self-esteem and can make the patient feel like he or she is part of the exclusive music community.
Promises Behavioral Health also provides other therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is an excellent tool for helping patients to identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that lead to drug use. This can help patients in addiction recovery to avoid relapse.
We also provide family therapy, which can help to heal the rifts that may have formed between the individual and his or her loved ones. Family therapy can also help to build a support system for the individual in addiction recovery.
Learn More About Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs at Promises Behavioral Health
If you have been affected by the opioid crisis in America, call to learn about our opioid addiction treatment programs. Opioid addiction does not have to take over your life, and with the right kind of help, recovery is possible. Promises Behavioral Health offers drug treatment centers for both men and women, with both inpatient and outpatient settings and medication-assisted treatment as well.
At Promises Behavioral Health, you will learn the skills that can keep you free of opioid addiction for life. Call us at 844.875.5609 and find out what addiction recovery program is right for you.