It’s safe to say that Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is an unfortunate but common problem in the U.S. According to the CDC, around 2.7 million people ages 12 or older reported having an OUD in 2020. From illegal drugs like heroin to prescription medications like oxycodone, opioids can ruin lives.
Because these addictions can be so difficult to overcome, many people with OUDs struggle with treatment. However, no one needs to go through it alone!
Reaching out to an opioid treatment center is a great way to get professional help and much-needed structure. These facilities specialize in helping patients overcome addiction, and they offer many benefits during treatment. Here are the key benefits to keep in mind if you or someone you love is considering professional addiction treatment.
Table of Contents
A Focus on Recovery
Opioid treatment requires a full commitment. For many patients, it can be hard to recover from an OUD amid the usual distractions of everyday life. Daily responsibilities and stresses may leave patients with little time to concentrate on their treatment.
Residential programs allow patients to focus on their recovery first and foremost. Without their usual daily stresses and concerns, patients may find it easier to break the pattern of addiction.
Medically Managed Detox
One of the biggest benefits of residential opioid treatment is medical assistance during a detox.
The detox process can be stressful and difficult. Many people experience painful and frustrating symptoms that may tempt them to begin using again to relieve the pain.
Common withdrawal symptoms may include the following:
- Muscle aches and pain
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Chills
- High blood pressure
- Increased sweating
These physical symptoms come in addition to the mental symptoms of withdrawal. Anxiety, depression, and insomnia are common in patients with OUDs.
Together, these symptoms can be hard to manage alone. That’s why it helps to experience them with health experts standing by.
Medical supervision can ensure that the detox process is less painful, allowing you to focus on the rest of your treatment. A recovery center may also prescribe medication that can help minimize patients’ symptoms and cravings. To learn more about medical detox assistance, visit https://hoperisingrecovery.com/st-george-rehab-center/.
Treatment of Underlying Issues
Many people with an OUD also struggle with additional challenges that need treatment. Patients often turn to drugs when they lack the coping strategies to address these challenges.
Sometimes, patients even have co-occurring mental health disorders that are not yet diagnosed or treated. For these patients, drug use can be an attempt to self-medicate.
Both outpatient and in-patient rehab work to address the mental and emotional challenges that go hand in hand with recovery. This often calls for several different types of therapy.
Patients will almost always have one-on-one therapy to help with healing. This may include treatment for co-occurring disorders, lessons on reinforcing boundaries, and strategies for healthier coping mechanisms.
In addition, patients will often have group therapy. This can be a great way to meet other people who are going through a similar experience.
Some facilities will also have additional therapies. These may include family or couples therapy, behavioral therapy, and activity-based therapy.
Peer Support
It’s hard to overstate the role peer support can play during opioid recovery.
Opioid addiction can feel isolating. Patients often have the sense that there’s no one in their lives they can turn to for help and understanding.
When attending group therapy, patients find a network of peers on a similar journey. Groups share their experiences, coping strategies, and struggles. They encourage each other to make healthier decisions and develop their skills.
Many patients find that peer support is crucial on their road to sobriety. The community they find in rehab can even become a lifelong source of comfort and friendship.
Relapse Prevention
When patients are trying to get clean at home, avoiding a relapse can be hard. Many patients struggle to stay away from the people, places, and things that trigger their cravings.
Choosing a drug treatment facility can help. Spending more time in a new, controlled environment is a great way to remove old triggers in one fell swoop. These facilities are geared toward providing appropriate structure, reducing cravings, and teaching healthy coping mechanisms.
In addition, addiction treatment centers never punish patients for a relapse. Instead, they work to help patients understand what went wrong and what to do next time. This supportive environment can help remove the fear and anxiety associated with treatment.
The skills patients learn during treatment can help even after the program’s end. The structure, coping mechanisms, and problem-solving will have become second nature, allowing patients to weave these skills into the rest of their lives.
A Better Lifestyle
Opioid treatment centers can help with a patient’s initial addiction and treatment, but they can also set patients up for a healthier overall lifestyle. Patients who stick with treatment will begin to enjoy the benefits of sobriety and their newfound skills.
Without constant cravings, this often includes clearer and more constructive thinking. Patients often find that the healthier coping strategies they’ve learned to treat their addiction can help in other areas of their lives as well.
Healthier relationships are another common side effect. This is true whether patients are learning to rebuild trust, creating healthier boundaries, or making new, positive connections.
Moving past an OUD can also help patients regain control of their finances. Without an expensive drug habit to support, patients often find themselves moving past financial hurdles.
Last, opioid treatment can help patients return to or work toward the lives, passions, and careers they wish for, all without the strain of addiction.
Reach Out to an Opioid Treatment Center
Seeking help from an opioid treatment center can offer a wealth of benefits. From professional and peer support to the removal of common triggers, these facilities allow patients to get clear and stay clear of addiction. Be sure to do your research and find a reputable program in your area!
Looking for more lifestyle guides like this one? Check out our other posts for additional advice.
