The National Institute on Drug Abuse states, “Taken as prescribed, opioids can be used to manage pain safely and effectively.” However, abusing these drugs can be extremely dangerous. In fact, prescription drug abuse is one of the most serious and severe substance abuse issues affecting our nation today.

Opioid Overdose Deaths

“The consequences of this abuse have been devastating and are on the rise. For example, the number of unintentional overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers has soared in the United States, more than quadrupling since 1999” (NIDA).

This issue occurs often as the result of high dose opioid abuse that leads to respiratory depression, brain damage, coma, and death. It is one of the most dangerous and deadly side effects of opioid drug abuse, and those who misuse these drugs put themselves at serious risk.

What’s more, a person is even more likely to overdose on opioids after going through withdrawal, according to the National Library of Medicine. This is because many individuals try to quit without the proper treatment and instead relapse back to drug use, which leads them to taking a high dose of the drug that their body can no longer handle. Overdose is a serious and likely result of prescription narcotic abuse, and the possibility of this serious occurrence is growing steadily higher every year.

Addiction

Opioids are addictive drugs, and abusing them can lead to this side effect. Because the drugs cause euphoria, which the brain begins to crave over time, a person can easily become heavily addicted to narcotics after misusing them for only a short while. Once addiction takes hold, it will be much harder for a person to quit their opioid use and, in addition, they will be likely to experience many issues in their life such as:

• Job loss
• Relationship and family problems
• Issues in school
• Financial problems
• Legal issues
• Severe health effects

Heroin Use

According to the NIDA, “Nearly half” of the individuals surveyed in recent studies reported the use of prescription opioids before making the switch to heroin. “Some individuals reported taking up heroin because it is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription opioids.”

This epidemic is serious and becoming more and more problematic as time goes on with the relative ease of obtaining heroin and the dangers of misusing any and all opioid drugs.

The Dangers of Prescription Narcotic Abuse

Many individuals believe that abusing these drugs will not cause the kinds of long-term issues caused by other kinds of substance abuse, nor do they understand the seriousness of misusing a substance that is meant to be taken by prescription only. It is not often realized how dangerous a prescription opioid can be when taken in a way that is not recommended by a doctor.

Even so, you can make a change to your life now and start to reverse these dangerous effects. Before you experience more issues associated with your prescription opioid abuse, call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) today, and make a change to your life. We can help you find a treatment program that fits your needs and answer any other questions you may have about prescription opioids and the risks associated with their misuse.

According to the Better Health Channel, “Studies suggest that a person’s quality of life is influenced by their outlook and by the way they cope emotionally with chronic pain.” This is part of the reason why narcotics are used to treat pain in order to create a better life for the individual. However, not everyone prefers to accept pain treatment with narcotics. So can this condition be treated without the use of opioid drugs?

Opioids are Effective––When Taken Correctly

Though there are a number of issues commonly associated with the use of narcotic medications, these drugs are effective for the treatment of pain when taken as prescribed. As stated by the National Library of Medicine, “When used carefully and under a health care provider’s direct care, these drugs can be effective at reducing pain” and do not cause addictive side effects. Only when a person begins abusing them do problems tend to occur.

Still, many individuals do prefer to avoid using these drugs at all costs, partly because they do not want to run the risk of addiction and often because they do not want to encounter the side effects associated with this treatment even if they do take the drugs correctly. In this case, there are some other options available.

Other Options for Pain Treatment

Usually, opioids are only used when a person’s pain cannot be treated by other, more mild types of painkillers. It is important that an individual who is reluctant to use narcotics understands this and talks to their doctor about any other pharmacological options that may be available to them before opioids are considered. However, there are other options available, depending on what the individual is comfortable with.

• Massage: This option can be beneficial for soft tissue injuries but not for pain that originates in the joints.
• Acupuncture: “Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the skin and is believed to restore balance, encourage the body to heal itself, and release natural pain-relieving compounds within the body” (BHC).
• Meditation: Meditation can be largely beneficial toward helping a person learn to relax at will. There are many different kinds of meditation, some of which involve exercise (yoga) and some of which do not.
• Behavioral therapy: CBT (or cognitive-behavioral therapy) can be used to help someone change the way they think about their pain and become better at managing it.
• Physical therapy: From stretching to walking and a number of other activities, physical therapy can help a person stay active and work into the areas that cause them pain.

Other options include alternating heat and cold and taking medications for mild pain. However, long-term, severe pain will often require a treatment regimen that utilizes some of the options above.

Narcotics Can Be Helpful––But They Aren’t Your Only Option

One does not need to treat their chronic pain with narcotics, but this option can be beneficial. It is important to understand all the options one has for the treatment of their condition, but if you have more questions about narcotics or their alternatives, call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) . In addition, if you have been abusing narcotics, let us help you find an addiction rehab option that will be beneficial to your needs.

Around 2.1 million people are dealing with prescription drug addiction in the United States, according to the NIDA. It is one of the fastest growing types of addiction and it can pass unseen for quite some time. Knowing the signs of prescription drug addiction can help save a person’s life, possibly even your own.

1. Dosage Increases

The longer a person is on any kind of medication—over the counter, prescription, or otherwise—they tend to develop a tolerance. As a result, they will increase the amount they take of the drug against medical advice or instruction. As their tolerance increases, so does the dosage and the risk of the consequences associated with the drug. While the drug’s effect increases with the dosage, the chances and severity of the consequences also increase. Dosage increases due to higher tolerances in addicts tend to lead to fatal overdoses. Since 1999, the NIDA estimates that the number of accidental prescription overdose deaths in the U.S. has quadrupled or more.

2. Long-term Usage

Within the medical community, continuing a prescription for long lengths of time, usually well past the point where the person doesn’t need it, is a sure sign of addiction. Prescriptions are not intended to be long-term, and it’s usually for specific chronic conditions when they are. A prescription drug addict might insist that they are still experiencing symptoms the drug is supposed to treat or that they have misplaced their prescription order. Doctors and pharmacists are trained to look for some of these red flags, and are often encouraged to report it. The person with the addiction may file complaints about doctors who refuse to write the prescription or who refused to fill it as a result.

3. Forgetfulness and Blackouts

Many prescription drugs come with a long list of side effects that can potentially happen when the drug is taken correctly. The chances of those side effects kicking in increases when they are misused in an addiction. The DEA states that most drugs will affect the chemical processes in the brain, even if that is not their original intent. As a result, the person may have moments of forgetfulness about events. They may also experience blackouts as they increase the dosage of the drug or if they are mixing other harmful substances. The blackouts are often the body’s response to its inability to process large and conflicting quantities of foreign substances.

4. Neglecting Responsibilities

With any kind of addiction, the addiction itself becomes a priority in the person’s life. Their main focus is based on the substance they are addicted to, how they’re going to get it, when they’re going to get it, and how long it’ll be before the next time. It is due to this absolute focus on the substance that makes an addict’s life chaotic. Often, all other responsibilities and people in the person’s life become less important as addiction continues. Loved ones are pushed away and the person’s duties are forgotten, all in favor of the drug of choice.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, consider calling us at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) to speak with one of our caring specialists for information on treatment options.

Narcotics are opioid-based medications that can treat a number of symptoms and conditions based on a person’s needs and treatment program. Narcotics can be very beneficial medications that, when taken under a doctor’s direct care, will not cause lasting problems. They can be dangerous, though, if a patient begins to abuse them or a person takes them without a prescription.

Treating Pain

The main reason opioids are prescribed to patients is to relieve pain. This could be both chronic and acute pain, although a different narcotic may be used for different types of pain. For example, according to the National Library of Medicine, oxycodone is meant to treat cases of “moderate to severe pain,” while fentanyl is used to treat “breakthrough pain” or “sudden episodes of pain that occur despite round the clock treatment with pain medications” (NLM). Some drugs are used to relieve pain related to cancer and other chronic issues while others may be used in the ED.

There are many different types of pain; therefore, many different types of narcotics exist to treat it. Certain patients in certain situations (like those coming out of surgery) require stronger medications like morphine while others may only need a milder narcotic like codeine. Still, any one of these medications can become addictive if abused and cause serious and sometimes even deadly side effects if taken in extremely high doses. A patient must always take their medication exactly as prescribed and avoid any misuse of a narcotic, no matter how strong it may be.

A person who has been treated with any type of narcotic consistently will also likely need to be weaned off it when their medication regimen is finished. This is because “withdrawal symptoms are common when [a person stops] taking a narcotic,” and your doctor will want to help you avoid going through withdrawal, instead letting your body gradually get used to the dwindling amount of medication until it no longer needs it (NLM).

Treating Other Issues

Some narcotics can treat cough as well. According to the NLM, “Hydrocodone relieves cough by decreasing activity in the part of the brain that causes coughing.” Codeine, another narcotic, can perform the same function. These drugs are also in a class called antitussives or cough suppressants. In addition, both codeine and diphenoxylate can be used to relieve “severe diarrhea” by inhibiting muscle movements in the bowels (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

Codeine cough syrup has recently become one of the more problematic drugs of abuse that many teenagers misuse to get high. This has become a very serious issue because, like all opioids, codeine in high doses can cause respiratory failure, and many teens who abuse the drug do not realize this. However, these drugs can be taken safely when prescribed by a doctor and taken at the prescribed dosage.

Being Treated with Narcotics

Narcotics are drugs that can be helpful to those who take them––as long as they do not stray from their doctors’ prescriptions and stay aware of how the drugs are affecting them. However, when someone does begin to abuse their prescription, they will need addiction rehab in order to overcome this dangerous condition. If you have more questions about narcotics or if you would like to find a rehab center near you, call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, “Although methadone has been legally available in the United States since 1947, more recently, it has emerged as a drug of abuse.” Unfortunately, methadone addiction is a serious issue today in the United States and all over the world. The large amounts of diversion and abuse associated with this medication “may be driven in part by the ready availability of the drug as it increasingly is used in the treatment of narcotic addiction and to relieve chronic pain.” But how is methadone addiction treated?

Immediate Methadone Addiction Treatment

When a person is first admitted to a rehab clinic or hospital for this condition, their vitals are taken and they are stabilized (in the instance that they may have overdosed on the drug). After this, the doctor is able to ask the individual questions about their previous and current drug use, any treatment programs they have previously attended, and their needs as a patient. An individual treatment program is created for the patient, and they can then begin their journey of recovery.

It should be stated that, if a patient was taking methadone as an addiction treatment before and wound up abusing the drug, they might require inpatient care, at least for the first stint of their treatment. This kind of program provides 24-hour care in a controlled environment, which can be necessary for individuals who may have struggled with a more lenient program.

Medication for Methadone Addiction Treatment

Methadone is one of the most widely used and highly trusted medications for the treatment of opioid addiction. However, if a person was already abusing methadone, doctors may be hesitant to give it to them again. Methadone is also stronger than buprenorphine and more easily tolerated by patients than naltrexone, though, so it may still be the medication of choice for the individual who has a strong physical dependence on opioids and who is not ready for the difficult trial of naltrexone treatment. Still, this depends entirely on the patient, their needs, and the decision they make together with their doctor while in methadone addiction treatment.

Behavioral Therapy for Methadone Addiction Treatment

There are many types of behavioral therapy available, and having at least one involved in a person’s treatment program is usually beneficial. Many individuals do well with cognitive-behavioral therapy, a program that teaches patients new ways to view their addictions and how to cope with the issues their drug abuse has left behind, while others may benefit from contingency management, a voucher-based program where patients are given rewards for staying sober. Family, couples, and group therapy have also all been found to be especially helpful for certain age groups as well as individuals who can benefit by connecting with others.

Seek Methadone Addiction Treatment Now

There are many programs that will help patients overcome methadone addiction as well as any other comorbid issues they are currently dealing with. Call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) today to find a treatment center or to simply find out more about methadone and its addiction syndrome.

When a loved one is going through an addiction, it can be very hard to know what techniques will work and what will only make the addiction worse. Many families would prefer to deny or ignore that their loved one is dealing with an addiction but the truth is that the only way to help is to act at the first signs of as addiction.

There are several ways an individual can help a family member dealing with addiction.

Learn About Addiction

It is important to know the signs and symptoms of addiction to better understand the suffering that the loved one is enduring. When a family member takes the first step in learning about what the individual is going through, it can make it easier for them to reach out to him/her.

The earlier the addiction is treated, the easier their road to recovery will be and if the family member takes the time to read about the symptoms and signs of addiction, the early signs can be noticed faster.

The learning experience will also bring clarity and understanding, which will help to open the communication between the addict and their family members.

Offer Familial Support

A family member can express their concerns and love for the individual when they notice the signs of an addiction. It is vital to remember to remain calm and not to let tempers flare when expressing these concerns to avoid any hurt feelings, broken communication, and in some cases, rebellion against the loved one.

The most important part of this is to express your support and offer help, including a willingness to aid in their recovery by seeking professional help. It is worth noting that the family member may be met with denial, excuses, or anger, which can open an opportunity for the family member to point out specific examples of the source for concern.

Family support is an important part of recovery for the addict. According to the SAMHSA, the family members can become the champions of their loved one’s recovery and can provide essential support while experiencing the positive moments for healing.

They can help the individual though their difficult challenges with their support and feel the achievements their loved ones accomplish alongside them.

Recovery Takes Time

Remember that it took time for the loved one to become addicted to the substance and it will take at least as much time for them to recover. An individual cannot simply quit because a family member tells them to or gives ultimatums.

The only way an addict can recover is with treatment, support, and counseling to learn new coping skills that will be needed to overcome their addiction. It is not because he/she does not love their family, but becoming free of their addiction is not something they can do on their own.

While the individual is in recovery, it is important that the family members remain involved to support the ongoing process. By providing support for their recovery, the addict is encouraged to go to their meetings, ongoing care, and support groups with their family by their side.

Not only will this help the individual, but it will also help the family to open communication between parties and give a more full understanding for either side of the situation.

There are several ways a family member can help when dealing with addiction. It is important that the family learn all they can in order to fully understand what their loved ones are going through, offer support, and remember that recovery can take just as much time as it took the addiction to set in.

According to the NCBI, family plays a central role in the treatment of addiction with family therapy to improve its effectiveness on the recovery of the addict.

If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction and needs help, call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) to speak with a caring specialist that can assist you.

Narcotics are highly addictive and dangerous chemical substances. They cause physical and psychological damage, and can even cause death. No one wants to see their daughter subjected to the ravages of narcotics addiction. One of the best ways to stop the addiction is rehab. However, it can be difficult to make an addict understand the need for rehab.

Have a Conversation with Her and Listen to her Reasoning

One of the most important things you can do to help your daughter with an addiction to narcotics is talk to them, and, more importantly, listen to what they say. Many times, just talking to your daughter about her addiction, and listening to her reasons for what she does, can help you reach a common ground for communicating, and convince her she needs rehab.

Talk to a Counselor about Rehab for your Daughter

In far too many cases, talking to your daughter just does not work. Talking to a counselor may help give you information and insight that will help you try again. They can also help you learn to deal with your daughter’s drug addiction, anger, and other issues. Counseling will be good for both of you in the long run. You will be able to better deal with the consequences and addiction issues.

Use Coercion to Get her into Rehab

While coercing your daughter into something she doesn’t want to do may not seem like a pleasant task, remember that you are doing it to potentially save her life. Whether you threaten to cut off financial support, offer to bribe her into rehab, or threaten to turn her into police, coercion may be a successful means of getting your daughter into rehab. It is not the best option but if it is dyer that she gets help, coercion might be a necessary evil.

Do Some Research on State and Federal Laws

When looking to get your daughter the help she needs from a rehab, it is also important to research state and federal laws. This will let you know your, and her, rights when it comes to committing her forcibly. Many municipalities allow you to do this for a period of 72 hours so that professionals can determine if she is a threat to herself or others. You should consider this an absolute last resort, as it often permanently damages your relationship with her.

Stage an Intervention

Another effective method of getting your daughter into rehab is an intervention. This involves gathering friends and family and directly confronting your daughter about her addiction, and your desire to get her help. This is best accomplished with a professional counselor, experienced with interventions, acting as an intermediary.

Realize you Do Not Have to Do This Alone

Although it might seem like it, you are not alone in the struggle to get your daughter into a rehab facility. We can help, all you have to do is call 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, alternative treatment means using non-traditional methods for treating a variety of diseases and addictions. These alternative therapies often do not use drugs or traditional approaches to medicine. Those that seek out alternative treatments for opiate addiction, usually want to stop taking medications for the addiction. Alternative treatments for opiate addiction usually involve eastern medicine and other philosophies in order to alleviate both the cause and the consequences of the addiction.

Who Uses Alternative Treatments for Opiate Addiction?

Those that use alternative treatments for opiate addiction are often people who seek answers in places other than traditional medicine. They are those that:

• do not want to replace an addiction with medication
• those that have tried other treatments without success
• are disillusioned by traditional medicine
• want to find a more natural way of treating their addiction
• have problems with taking medications or traditional therapy
• do not believe in a 12 step approach
• are in chronic pain and are not candidates for methadone or Suboxone
• believe that the addiction is a spiritual problem and not a physical or psychological one

All of these are very valid even though it might not seem like it to others. The choice of treatment is a very personal one and believing a treatment will work for you is extremely important for recovery.

Types of Alternative Therapies

Many people shy away from alternative treatment methods because they do not know what types there are or how they work. Some treatment facilities already use alternative therapies in conjunction with more traditional medical treatments. You might have also participated in an alternative therapy without even realizing it.

Some of the more common alternative therapies are:

• Acupuncture – the use of needles at specific pressure points to relieve pain, symptoms of addiction, and cravings.
• Massage – rubbing and manipulating muscles to help relieve pain, some say that it also helps with cravings and anxiety.
• Electroacupuncture – this is similar to acupuncture only uses electricity at pressure points to reduce pain, relieve the symptoms of opiate addiction, and help with cravings.
• Yoga – this method of stretching and breathing is not only a form of exercise it teaches a deep relaxing meditation along with helping to heal the body.
• Reiki – this is a hands on therapy where the practitioner holds their hands over the addict and manipulates the energy in their body to speed recovery.
• Art therapy – art therapy is the practice of drawing, painting, or sculpting to relax the mind and discover true feelings that come out in the art.
• Aquatic therapy – aquatic therapy is using submersion in water as both exercise and meditation. Some believe that the feeling of being submerged helps to calm cravings and reduce anxiety.

Some of these therapies for opiate addiction are in practice in many of the treatment centers operating in the United States today. If you need more information or to find a treatment center that uses alternative therapies, call us at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opiate addiction is one of the most difficult addictions to break free from. Many people suffer from opiate addiction due to a medical condition or a condition that causes chronic physical or mental pain. This makes addiction recovery difficult for most because the condition necessitates some form of drug treatment. This is where social recovery theory might help.

What is Social Recovery?

Social recovery theory is the idea that people become addicted to opiates and other drugs due to environmental and social factors. In the case of opiate addicts it is the chronic physical and emotional pain they experience that begins the addiction. Most people addicted to opiates are:

• socially isolated
• in physical or mental pain
• under extreme stress
• impoverished
• self-medicating for an undiagnosed illness

In social recovery theory, if these conditions are not corrected, the addiction will never go away. You will always need a chemical crutch to help alleviate the symptoms. Basically social recovery is the theory that people who have an environmental or psychological reason to become addicted will be addicts.

What Makes Social Recovery Right for Opiate Addiction?

Social recovery works for opiate addiction because there is a foreseeable and often correctable cause. If the environmental, physical, and psychological factors are being treated then the drug addiction will stop surfacing. Most people who believe in social recovery believe in treating the whole person, not just the addiction. Although each person’s circumstances are different, finding and treating the cause of opiate addiction, stops the addiction.

For example: if someone is in chronic pain, treating that pain with another drug, surgery, or other corrective measures will stop the person from needing the opiates after the physical withdrawal is gone.

How Does it Work?

Social recovery theory works by replacing the opiate with the things that a person is lacking. After withdrawal, counseling begins. This counseling is not necessarily on how to deal with triggers and other problems that addicts encounter, it is to discover the initial cause of the addiction.

If the cause of the addiction is chronic pain, the treatment course is relatively simple. Counselors and doctors work together to find the source of the pain and use methods aside from opiates to return the person to a more normal functional level without pain.

If there are multiple causes to the addiction, counselors and doctors find and correct each cause one by one until the addict no longer has a reason to take the opiates. This is sometimes a very lengthy and difficult process but one that isolates why someone is addicted rather than just dealing with the aftermath of the addiction.

How to Find a Treatment Center that uses Social Recovery Theory

Although social recovery is not a new treatment method, many treatment centers use different names for it. You can find an addiction treatment center that uses the basics of social recovery theory by calling us at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opiate addiction is among the leading addictions worldwide. Many people suffer from prescription opiate addiction, heroin addiction, illicit opiate addiction, and many others. There is such a wide variety of both prescription opiates and nonprescription ones, that it is difficult to tell if you are taking one or not.

Part of the problem with opiate addiction, is that it usually starts with a chronic or intense disease or disorder. This makes recovery extremely difficult because the opiate is serving a purpose, even if you are addicted to it. Social recovery might be an answer to opiate addiction.

How Social Recovery Started

Social recovery started in the 1970’s when scientists still used a device called a Skinner box to study how rats responded to addictive drugs. The rat was put into a box by themselves and offered two forms of water. The first had a mixture of water and heroin and the other had just plain water. The rat whose physiology is similar to humans would start to choose the heroin water very quickly. Scientists thought that this indicated that opiates were volatile and highly addictive.

Now it is important to understand that rats are extremely social creatures. They live, play, and work in groups. Putting a rat alone in a box with the drug as its only source of pleasure or escape, is like doing the same thing to a human, of course the rat is going to respond to both its environment and the drug that gives it pleasure.

A group of scientists noticed this and decided to try a different sort of experiment. They built what is now referred to as Rat Park. This was a large cage with other rats and plenty of toys and activities. The rats also had their choice of opiate laced water and plain water. Although all the rats tried the opiate laced water, only a few of them ever returned to it after the initial taste. This indicated to the scientist that in an more pleasurable environment opiates were not nearly as addictive as they originally thought.

How Does Social Recovery Help Opiate Addicts?

When you translate the Rat Park study to humans, you quickly realize that it is the conditions that people are in that might be causing the addiction to opiates. If you are in pain all of the time or are socially isolated you are more likely to be addicted to heroin or opiates.

Social recovery strives to correct the physical and environmental aspects of an opiate addict’s life in order to stop the addiction. After the initial withdrawal from the drug, people addicted to opiates are given medical help and other resources to help them live a more full and productive life without the opiates. They correct the overall issue in hopes of stopping the addiction.

This works for many people who turn to opiates because of their life circumstances. If you would like to know more about social recovery for opiate addiction or to find a treatment center that specializes in it, call us at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) .