The opioid epidemic has gotten worse in recent years as more and more Americans are getting hooked on painkillers and heroin. To help deal with this public health crisis, here’s what you should know about opioid addiction Lexington KY. This includes the common signs of opioid abuse and how various methods can be used to stop it from progressing any further. In addition, you’ll learn how long it takes to recover from addiction on average and why relapse rates remain high despite treatment efforts.

How Do Opioids Affect Your Body?

Opioids are among some of most powerful and effective prescription painkillers, but they also cause many negative effects on your body. They can make you nauseous, sleepy, constipated, or—worst of all—addicted. Opioid addiction is a dangerous condition that causes individuals to crave opioids long after their acute pain has passed. When used for short periods for pain relief, opioids can be safe and effective; however, when used over longer periods and at higher doses than prescribed it can quickly become habit-forming and addictive. Over time your body will stop making natural endorphins because they are being artificially replaced by opioids in your brain.

How Do You Know If You’re Addicted?

The CDC says that if you are using drugs more often or in higher doses than you intended, or if you’re using drugs even when they’re causing problems in your life, then you could be addicted and you need to seek help from experts in opioid addiction Lexington KY. Your brain becomes used to operating on opioids, so your tolerance also increases with continued use. That means it takes more of these drugs to get high and avoid withdrawal symptoms. If you’re able to quit taking them suddenly, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, muscle aches and agitation. Taking lower doses will allow your body time to adapt while still lessening withdrawal symptoms; many drug treatments include such a dose taper as part of their recovery plan.

What Treatment Options Are Available?

Whether you’re just now learning about your dependency or have been in treatment for some time, you might be wondering what treatment options are available. The options for treating an opioid dependence are very similar to those used for any other form of drug addiction and include detoxification, counseling and/or behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment. Medication assisted treatment is perhaps one of the most promising treatment options today when it comes to opioid addiction Lexington KY and is often referred to as MAT (medication-assisted treatment). Medications like buprenorphine or methadone help ease withdrawal symptoms while reducing cravings. These medications can be administered under medical supervision in a doctor’s office or via home-based prescription if you prefer to take them on your own schedule.

What Should I Know About Methadone Treatments?

These medications, which are available in pill form, sublingual lozenges, and injections under brand names like Dolophine and Methadose, are generally used as part of a multidisciplinary approach to treating opioid dependence. For example, they can be prescribed alongside behavioral therapy. This combination is known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or harm reduction therapy. The purpose of medication-assisted treatment is to help wean you off of opioids so that you can eventually lead a life free from addiction. But it's important to note that methadone does not produce an overdose effect, even when doses rise well above recommended levels.