To effectively treat opiate addiction (and addiction in general) the medical research community has given some principle concepts what should be addressed within the treatment of addiction:
1. Addiction is a complex, chronic (but treatable) disease that affects the brain and behavior.
2. Medical/medication intervention is an important part of addiction treatment and relapse prevention.
3. Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage and is not successful in changing long-term drug abuse on its own.
4. Individuals seeking treatment for addiction also need to be tested and treated for HIV/AIDs, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, and infectious disease. As well as receive risk reduction counseling for common infectious disease.
5. Individuals
…show more content…
No single treatment is appropriate of everyone – This is why consist assessment is needed and the evaluation of the varying CBT, Family, & motivation therapies are needed.
11. Treatment needs to be readily available.
12. Treatment does not have to be entered into voluntarily to be effective.
13. As addiction is a chronic disease, relapse can occur at any point of treatment and recovery. (National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), n.d.)
The current opiate epidemic must be addressed on multiple levels but with the help of the medical science and research community we have been provided a map to a solution for the medical treatment of addiction. We must stop picking and choosing only pieces of the treatment process in order to make it fast, cheap and just hope for the best. If as a society, we really want to help those struggling with addiction, to stop this epidemic, to put families back together, to stop the cycle of babies born addicted, then there must be a commitment made that the process of treating addiction will be regulated and followed like that of all other chronic diseases. Society must be re-educated on what addiction is and what it is not. Addiction is a matter of life and death, a serious public health epidemic and the current solution of punishing those suffering from addiction is not the answer. The answer is more empathic, compassionate treatment, delivered in a manner that matches that of other medical treatment of epidemic
On the typical day, over 90 people will die at the hand of opioid abuse in America alone (National). In fact, as of 2014, nearly 2 million Americans were dependent and abusing opioids. The Opioid Crisis has affected America and its citizens in various ways, including health policy, health care, and the life in populous areas. Due to the mass dependence and mortality, the crisis has become an issue that must be resolved in all aspects.
Treatment for addictions is multivariate. When looking at appropriate treatments it is important to consider the treatment setting, treatment approach, what is important when treating varying age groups, as well as treating addiction and mental health simultaneously. All of these factors play a large part in treating patients with addiction; appropriate treatment may different between patients.
Almost one hundred years ago, prescription drugs like morphine were available at almost any general store. Women carried bottles of very addictive potent opiate based pain killers in their purse. Many individuals like Edgar Allen Poe died from such addictions. Since that time through various federal, state and local laws, drugs like morphine are now prescription drugs; however, this has not stopped the addiction to opiate based pain killers. Today’s society combats an ever increasing number of very deadly addictive drugs from designer drugs to narcotics to the less potent but equally destructive alcohol and marijuana. With all of these new and old drugs going in and out of vogue with addicts, it appears that the increase of misuse and abuse is founded greater in the prescription opiate based painkillers.
Opiates are a class of drugs that are used for chronic pain. Opioids are substances that are used to relieve pain by binding opiate receptors throughout the body, and in the brain. These areas in the brain control pain and also emotions, producing a feeling of excitement or happiness. As the brain gets used to these feelings, and the body builds a tolerance to the opioids, there is a need for more opioids and then the possibility of addiction.
This leads to the second school of thought on medically assisted treatment. There has been a great deal of debate about the medication used to treat Opiate addiction, methadone. Many feel that the drug methadone is simply trading one drug in for another, as the addiction to methadone is quick and almost more powerful than an opiate addiction (Nelson, 1994). The withdrawals effects are far more intense with methadone and for this reason it is a lifetime maintenance medication. Some suggest that more rehabilitative programs are needed that would address the social problems the users have to help them recover, instead of the methadone program that is viewed...
In relation to drug abuse, relapse is resuming the use of a chemical substance or drug after a period of abstinence. The term can be said to be a landmark feature of a combination of substance abuse and substance independence. The propensity for dependency, repeated use, and tendencies that take the form of the substance being used, are some of the issues that drug users’ experience. Substances that enhance most severe tendencies in users and pose high pharmacological efficacy, are those that are cleared quickly from the body, in addition to those that bring out the highest tolerance. There can be increased substance tolerance with the increasing dependency in relation to drug in question, and withdrawals and cravings when the user stops.
Addiction is a dependence on a substance where the individual who is affected feels defenseless and unable to stop the obsession to use a substance or prevent a particular behavior. Millions of Americans have addictions to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and even to behaviors such as obsessive gambling. Pharmacotherapy is a treatment process in which a counselor can use a particular drug to counter act an addictive drug or behavior. Not all counselors agree with this type of treatment. However in order to provide a client with an ethical treatment and unbiased opinions they should be made aware of all scientific evidence of different treatment options. “Thus, attention to addiction pharmacotherapy is an ethical mandate no matter what prejudices a counselor may have” (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2008, p. 196). Some particular pharmacotherapy’s a counselor may use for the treatment of addiction are Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), Disulfiram (Antabuse), Naltrexone (ReVia, Depade), Methadone (Dolophine), and Buprenorphine (Temgesic, Suboxone).
Drug addiction is more complicated than medicine thought in previous years. It’s not because someone is weak or unable to control themselves. They are chemical such a dopamine in the human body that makes the process difficult. The brain works in a neuropath way and drug interrupt the normal process which stops the frontal lobe to work as it should. Treatment isn’t done right and patients tend to repeat their habit after they get out of rehab. Psychological treatment is not as effective as chemical injection for dopamine to reward the brain. However, even after the treatment is complete, it will be a life struggle to stay away from drugs since the brain will always look for a simpler way to reward itself.
This experience helped me to recognize the internal struggle that a substance abuser faces on a continuous basis. In addition, I know that an individual can have a difficult time changing their behavior even when they have a strong desire to change; the smallest thing can cause a person to relapse.
Drug and alcohol abuse has become a worldwide epidemic within today’s society. The battle against drugs and alcohol is not going to diminish. Therefore, we as a society need to work together to address these problems while incorporating successful treatment plans and services for these individuals. The addiction to these substances does not only effect oneself, but can also have profound consequences for the children and families.
Treatment works Addiction is an epidemic in the world today; almost everyone is affected by it, whether it is a family member, a friend, a co-worker, themselves or a crime committed towards them. What is the answer to this problem, treatment or jail? With a variety of available methods, treatment is the best option to help alcoholics and addicts recover from their addictions. Even with a given percentage of relapse, treatment works far better than locking people away, which does nothing to fix the problem. Treatment is the most productive way to go because it addresses why the individual uses, it gets the addict or alcoholic away from the substance for a period of time, helps to show them the damage that is actually happening to their life
Opioid usage has been prominent in the past couple of years, but studies from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre have become more impotent to inform about the increased addiction across the globe. The mortality rate in opioids are higher than other drugs due to its addictive properties, thus leading to overdose. Overdosing on opioids isn’t just common in adolescents as once thought, yet it is frequent in adults as well. This information will provide proper education for the purpose of hindering this epidemic.
The Journal of Neuroscience Dobler-Mikola, A. Gschwed, P. Gutzwiller, F. Steffen, T. Rehm, J. Uch engagen, A. Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of Injectable Heroin Prescription for Refractory Opioid Addicts: a follow-up study. The Lancet, volume 358, pg. 1417-1420. Everitt, B. Robbins, T. (1999) Drug addiction: bad habits add up. Macmillian Magazines, volume 389, pg.
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.
...me involved in things that they enjoy doing to make them feel important of needed. Picking up a hobby or adopting a pet can be a good way to help them feel important and keep their mind clear. A drug relapse can be a process from a recovery. A drug addict will find the relapse very frustrating and hurtful but in the end it will help them understand the mistake that they had made the first time.