Opioid drugs, including heroin and prescription opioid painkillers, can produce withdrawal symptoms within just a few hours of the last dose. Symptoms of opioid withdrawal can last for a week or more. While unassisted withdrawal may not be life-threatening, it can lead to relapse and potential overdose. Seeking help during withdrawal can help to ease the mental, emotional and physical discomfort ...
Is Buprenorphine Treatment Becoming Mainstream?
The opioid epidemic in the United States has reached unprecedented levels amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were an estimated 90,000 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending September 2020, including a 55% increase in opioid-related deaths. The Biden administration recently released new federal guidelines allowing ...
Best Ways to Manage Stress When Recovering From Addiction
Stress is considered an important factor in the beginning stages of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as in regards to relapse. As a result, finding ways to manage stress when recovering from addiction is imperative. Although stress has been shown to precipitate relapses on illicit opiates, alcohol cocaine, nicotine and other substances, there are many ways to manage or overcome it. While it may ...
Common Barriers to Addiction Treatment
Though an overwhelming number of people in America need treatment for substance use disorder, many people face barriers that prevent them getting the help they need. There is usually a combination of reasons that come into play that can discourage those who need help to reach out, but statistics show that there are several factors that are most apparent. Denial A common occurrence amongst ...
How to Inform People You’re Going to Treatment
Once you've come to the important decision to seek help for a substance use disorder, you may be struggling to find a way to break the news to family and friends about entering treatment. Whether or not your loved ones are aware of your addiction the conversation may be an emotional one, but can bring you hope. Immediate Family: Most likely, those closest to you know that you're struggling ...
How Long Does It Take for Methadone to Get out of Your System?
With methadone-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT), patients can have an easier time managing withdrawal. Methadone has a high safety profile when you take it as directed by your doctor. However, it still counts as an opioid, making some patients worry about drug screenings and how it works. If you take methadone under a doctor's supervision, it can help you stay on the path to recovery. ...
