Methadone serves as the addiction field’s gold standard for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for treating opiate addiction. If you plan to enter a MAT program or know someone who participates in one, you may wonder how patients take this medication. Treatment with methadone goes beyond taking a pill every day. It involves many safeguards and much […]
Jul 19, 2019
During opioid withdrawal, you can experience a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms. But can someone die from opioid withdrawal? While it doesn’t directly cause death, its symptoms can become lethal in rare cases, usually in jails. When a patient decides to begin recovery and gets treatment, they experience only discomfort in the vast majority of […]
Jul 17, 2019
With correct use, opioid medications can relieve chronic pain and improve a patient’s quality of life. However, doctors and patients need to take certain precautions before and during opioid treatment for pain. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 21 and 29 percent of patients with opioid prescriptions misuse their medicine. Prescription opioids can also […]
Jul 15, 2019
Opioid addiction treatment centers that offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) use medications that include methadone and buprenorphine. Both medicines relieve the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that happen when someone discontinues opioid use. With their symptoms reduced, the patient can work on achieving their treatment goals. Whether the doctor and patient choose methadone or buprenorphine depends on […]
Jul 08, 2019
While researching opioid use disorder, you may see both the terms “opioid” and “opiate” used by professionals. These words refer to two categories of narcotics with many similarities, but you can also find a few differences. Learn the difference between these two terms and how this difference matters for the recovery community. A History of […]
Jul 03, 2019
Recovery involves changes in all aspects of your life. Since addiction impacts so many parts of everyday living, so does the path to sobriety. Having the right support system will help you go through this transition and stay committed to your goals. Consider these three reasons behind the importance of social support during sobriety and […]
Jul 01, 2019
The recovery experience opens a world of possibilities. You can create a new identity for yourself and work toward the life you want, including work and play. You may focus on the “work” aspect of life in your recovery to maintain stability. However, once you attain that goal, working on the “play” aspect also becomes […]
Jun 26, 2019
Cravings happen to many people working to recover from opioid use disorder. This symptom gives you the urge to use opioids in response to specific triggers or without a particular reason. With the right strategies, you can manage your cravings and stay on the path to recovery. Try these approaches when you get the urge […]
Jun 24, 2019
The United States opioid crisis affects people of all ages and backgrounds, including college students. Adults between 18 and 25 have the highest rates of substance use among all age groups. With so many young adults dealing with substance use disorders, college becomes a critical focus area for the opioid epidemic. Learn more about college […]
Jun 19, 2019
When you hear about poppy seeds causing a false positive on a drug test, you might think of it as a myth. However, research and anecdotal evidence show that poppy seeds can appear on a screening’s results. Eating food that contains poppy seeds can cause you to fail a drug test even if you don’t […]
Jun 17, 2019
Do you have insurance that covers methadone and buprenorphine in California? At MedMark Treatment Centers and our affiliate, BAART Programs, we accept insurance from Anthem Blue Cross California. Anthem Blue Cross covers patients across the state and helps them get opioid use disorder treatment. Discover more about Anthem Blue Cross insurance plans and how we […]
Jun 14, 2019
If you seek treatment for opioid use disorder, we congratulate you on making this vital step toward a drug-free life. Receiving help from a medical provider can give you the support needed to stay committed to your goals. Addiction professionals offer a wide variety of treatment models that can assist you in changing your life. […]
May 16, 2019
When someone stops taking an opioid drug suddenly, the first symptoms of withdrawal can appear within hours. Withdrawal from short-acting opioids like heroin can start within six to 12 hours of the last use, and can continue for four to 10 days. Longer-acting opioids like fentanyl take longer to leave the body, so withdrawal symptoms […]
Apr 12, 2019
The field of addiction treatment considers methadone to be the treatment of choice for pregnant and breastfeeding women in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Methadone can improve the health of both mother and child when taken as directed. Discover how you can participate in a safe MAT program while breastfeeding your baby. Methadone’s Safety for Pregnant and […]
Apr 12, 2019
The changes that happen to your body during addiction and recovery can add new factors to consider when taking care of yourself. As you go through methadone treatment for opioid use disorder, you might experience weight gain. What causes this increase in weight? How can you maintain a healthy BMI during recovery? Learn the answers […]
Mar 27, 2019
Like any other medication, methadone has side effects and interactions with other substances. The combination of methadone and Klonopin, a benzodiazepine, can become dangerous due to drug interactions. Discover more about the risks of mixing methadone and Klonopin. About Methadone, Klonopin and Their Drug Categories Klonopin and methadone have different drug classes. Methadone has over […]
Mar 27, 2019
Methadone, a medication used to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, has side effects and interactions like any other medication. When combined with alcohol, methadone can become dangerous due to the interaction between the two drugs. Learn the risks associated with drinking alcohol while taking methadone. About Methadone In the field of addiction care, methadone has more […]
Mar 27, 2019
If you’re online looking for help because you have one or both parents dealing with addiction, you will find many useful resources to get the help you need. First and foremost, if you believe you’re in immediate danger or if your parent(s) need medical assistance, call emergency services or go to a friend, relative, or […]
Oct 17, 2018
There are differences between recreational drug use, drug misuse, and drug addiction and it’s important to recognize the factors that set them apart. Recreational drug use and frequent drug misuse can all potentially lead to a drug addiction, but it can be hard to pinpoint whether or not you have a legitimate drug addiction. Addiction […]
Oct 10, 2018
The media seems to put a lot of focus on the millennial generation, whether it’s to blame them for killing various industries or praise them for advocating social change. Those who were born between 1981 and 1996 are categorized as Millennials and have faced unique challenges in their lives when compared to their parents and […]
Oct 03, 2018
Kratom is a drug that is fairly new to many people, as it’s not illicit and only popular in somewhat underground circles. It’s made from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia and can be found in leaf and powder form. Many people claim it can be used to help ease the side-effects […]
Sep 26, 2018
Addiction is called a “family disease” because it not only affects the whole family when a member has a substance use disorder but also because there’s a hereditary link that can be passed down. An important aspect of understanding addiction as a disease is seeing how biological and environmental factors can impact addiction. Those who […]
Sep 19, 2018
America has been plagued by an opioid epidemic for over two decades, devastating millions of families and causing a population decline of the millennial generation, but is there an end in sight? There have been measures taken by doctors across the nation to reduce the number of opioids that are prescribed to people in efforts […]
Sep 12, 2018
The science behind addiction has come a long way in the past 20 years along with the growing prevalence of substance use disorders around the world. Many people still want to believe that addiction only affects the weak-willed. They see it as a character flaw instead of an actual disease. However, when looking closer at […]
Sep 05, 2018
Children of those with substance use disorders are often the silent victims of addiction. Drug use in the home of a young child can take an emotional, psychological, and physical toll on them that changes the course of their future. When someone is dealing with their addiction, they are often too preoccupied with the drug’s […]
Aug 29, 2018
If you suspect that you may be pregnant and you are currently struggling with opioid addiction, it’s important to understand the effects of these drugs on an unborn child and the safest way to to prevent medical complications. With the rise of substance use disorders and opioid misuse in America, more and more people are […]
Aug 22, 2018
Drugs can significantly affect the way in which your brain chemistry functions, which is directly related to how you process thoughts and emotions. The mentality of someone who is attempting to overcome an addiction or habitual drug misuse is complex and not always easy to understand. If you have found yourself at a crossroads where […]
Aug 15, 2018
Every person who has a substance use disorder has a unique experience and path that lead them to their addiction. Some people are dealing with unresolved mental health issues or trauma, while others have genetic and environmental factors that have lead them to drug use. Another interesting factor that can sometimes contribute to someone’s addiction […]
Aug 08, 2018
Watching a loved one deal with addiction is one of the hardest things anyone can go through. When you love someone so sincerely, you feel their pain, you struggle with them and you want, more than anything, for them to find a way to get out of the dark place they’re in. When two people […]
Aug 01, 2018
Science has shown us that there are hereditary links that pass the disease of addiction down from parents, to children, and even grandchildren. We’ve also learned a lot about the effects of drugs on children who grow up with parents with untreated addiction and the mental, physical, psychological toll that kind of exposure can take […]
Jul 26, 2018
