Most of the time, the term narcotics refers to opiates or opioid painkillers that are available through prescription from a doctor but the term can also refer to other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine or methamphetamine. Various narcotics addiction treatment options exist to assist those who become hopelessly addicted to drug to get the help and support that they need to overcome the perils of addiction and live a sober lifestyle. Some of the most common options for narcotics addiction treatment include:

• Medications
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Contingency Management
• Counseling

Narcotics addiction is a complex issue that affects millions of people. The addiction will literally consume an individual’s life taking over everything including his or her health, actions, thought processes and lifestyle. The behaviors of an individual addicted to painkillers or other narcotics are typically high risk, high trouble and highly disputable.

Medication Based Treatments

Many people who become addicted to narcotics choose not to seek help for their addiction primarily because they are afraid of the withdrawal symptoms that will come during detox and the early phases of treatment. Many medication based treatments are available to assist those who are addicted to narcotics in surpassing the phase of detox with minimal withdrawal symptoms. There are even medication replacement programs such as those which use Suboxone or methadone to replace the opiates and reduce the addiction symptoms associated with an opiate or opioid dependence problem.

The most common medications used in narcotics addiction treatment include:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone
• Suboxone

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Many different behavioral therapy options exist in the treatment of narcotics addiction. One of the most common methods of behavioral therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which works to change the behaviors of the patient through helping them learn how to recognize, avoid and cope with situations that are likely to result in them using drugs. This method of therapy is also widely used in other forms of treatment such as the treatment of compulsive disorders such as OCD.

Family Therapy

Many people who are addicted to narcotics have caused great harm or pain to their family members and loved ones as a result of their addiction. While there are many narcotics addiction treatment options available to assist those who require support, family therapy is reserved for the loved ones and the addict to come together and get counseling and support for the tragedy and pain that addiction has caused. Family therapy is very important because it provides a healing process for the entire family system and not just the addict him or herself.

Contingency Management

Also called motivational incentives, contingency management is one of the options of narcotics addiction treatment that focuses on providing positive reinforcement to recovering addicts when they do well. The primary purpose here is to reward positive behaviors related to abstinence from narcotics abuse. The individual may receive a reward such as a restaurant voucher, free day from treatment or some other reward that they would appreciate for things such as staying sober for a set number of days, reducing an opiate replacement medication to a specific point or reaching other goals in recovery.

Counseling

Various methods of counseling are provided to patients who suffer from narcotics addiction including individual and group counseling methods. Most people undergo a series of counseling programs when they suffer from substance abuse problems such as an addiction to opiates or prescription painkillers. The counseling is typically diverse and includes educational sessions, talk therapy, and group sessions that all work to help the user better understand the addiction, work through treatment and find their way in recovery.

Resources:

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction