In looking at treatment for opiate addiction, there are two primary approaches. One is to go cold turkey and work on behavior; the other is to switch to a less-dangerous drug, namely Suboxone. This controlled, prescription medication combines buprenorphine and naloxone for a one-two punch that has been proven to work. To put it simply, Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction using both medications is safer, more convenient, and a more effective method for successfully treating opioid dependence.

A Safe Option for Opiate Addiction

Suboxone is the name brand of a combination of two drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. It is given in a sublingual film and can only be obtained with a prescription from a qualified medical doctor.

In kind of a “fight fire with fire” approach, buprenorphine is actually a partial opioid. Unlike heroin or even methadone, which are full opioids, buprenorphine is much less addictive. It helps to decrease cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms.

The other drug used in Suboxone is naloxone, an opioid blocker. This prevents an overdose on the buprenorphine.

When a patient is undergoing Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction, it is impossible to overdose. Even if the patient takes more than the recommended daily dose, naloxone steps in to ensure there are no issues.

In fact, patients on Suboxone cannot even supplement with another drug to get high. Naloxone blocks all effects associated with the feeling of getting high, whether a person chooses another prescription drug or even a street drug.

That makes Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction much safer than using buprenorphine or methadone alone.

Convenience and Ease with Suboxone Treatment for Opiate Addiction

While some addicts who are looking to end their relationship with opiates may choose an in-patient option, that is not necessary when they are taking Suboxone. Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction can be administered on an outpatient basis in a clinic or doctor’s office rather than in a hospital or inpatient residential facility.

That means life can resume normally. Many patients on Suboxone start to reclaim their lives within days. They can continue to work and live at home. In addition, they don’t need daily check-in appointments. Usually, a patient on Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction only needs to see their doctor weekly to start, switching to monthly and then quarterly as they progress.

As an added bonus, follow-up appointments can be conducted via telemedicine, meaning that Suboxone treatment is a viable option for patients in rural areas.

An Effective Solution: Suboxone Treatment for Opiate Addiction

The other opiate addiction recovery medication with which you’re likely familiar is methadone. Unlike buprenorphine, a partial opioid, methadone is a full opioid. Essentially, it is an opioid replacement. That means it is harder to reduce given that omitting it still results in withdrawal. And without naloxone, a patient can potentially overdose on methadone.

Suboxone, on the other hand, can be tapered as treatment progresses. In addition, it reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings, does not cause euphoria in an opioid addict, and blocks the effects of other opioids for at least 24 hours.

Success rates for Suboxone treatment for opiate drug addiction are as high as 40% to 60% after one year. And some patients have remained on Suboxone for years with no side effects.

If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction and needs help, count on Direct2Recovery. Direct2Recovery’s outpatient program specifically uses Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction, combined with counseling, to help addicts positively change their lives by getting clean and sober. Contact us for your confidential consultation.

When you or someone you love is ready to overcome an addiction to opioids, where can you go for opiate addiction help AZ? There are two basic options: inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Inpatient Opiate Addiction Help AZ

For opiate addiction help AZ, one option is inpatient treatment at a hospital or residential treatment center. In this scenario, patients receive 24/7 care for an extended period of time—usually 30–90 days. People who choose inpatient care often feel as if they are out of control in their lives and need a drastic solution. They may have been dealing with their addiction for a number of years or have lost family members or jobs.

During inpatient treatment for opiate addiction, patients start with a drug detoxification process. This can last 3, 5, or 7 days. Some opt to detox immediately and completely while others use drugs to step off opiates gradually.

Following detoxification, patients receive expert medical and behavioral-health treatment and psychological counseling. Following successful treatment, there is usually a transition period during which patients continue with outpatient services for opiate addiction help AZ, including therapy and medication. They are also encouraged to connect with local organized support groups for addicts, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Outpatient Opiate Addiction Help AZ

If an inpatient option is not your preferred choice due to cost or lifestyle, the alternative is outpatient treatment. Most treatment facilities prescribe Suboxone. Suboxone includes two important drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that provides a lower dose of the addictive drug. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses opioid overdose. When used in conjunction with each other, they provide the positive effects the patient is familiar with, but overdose is impossible.

Patients may choose to use Suboxone for a short time or stay on it indefinitely. During their treatment, they are supervised by a board-certified physician with experience in addiction recovery. They may also work with a psychiatrist, counselor, or attend group counseling.

Opiate Addiction Is a Crisis

Opiate addiction is currently considered an epidemic, both in state and across the country. Last year, Arizona and the federal government declared opioids a public health emergency. Each day, it’s estimated that 115 Americans die from opioid-related drug overdoses. In Arizona, 790 Arizonans died from opioid-related overdoses in 2016. That’s 2 people every single day.

There’s no getting around the fact that opiates, whether in the form of street drugs or prescriptions, are deadly. Hospitals and clinics deal daily with helping people abusing and addicted to opioids, which include prescription painkillers OxyContin and its generic oxycodone, Vicodin and its generic hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. Opioids also include heroin and synthetic opiates such as Fentanyl.

Direct2Recovery Provides Opiate Addiction Help AZ

If you or a loved one is struggling with opiate addiction, you are not alone. You do not have to face recovery on your own. There is help available. Direct2Recovery is a Phoenix addiction recovery clinic that puts patients first. We understand the shame you feel, along with your desire to overcome your addiction and find balance again.

Direct2Recovery is an outpatient solution. We prescribe Suboxone and have seen clients across Phoenix and Arizona see their lives turnaround through the use of this drug. And when combined with counseling, families come back together and stability returns. We can help you too. Contact us today to learn more.

Did you know that opiate addiction is now classified as a crisis? According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 116 people die each day due to opiate addiction. Thankfully, Arizona opiate addiction help is now available. With the crisis reaching epidemic proportions, more and more clinics and doctors are stepping up to answer the need. Direct2Recovery is one that saw the opportunity to help the thousands of Arizonans affected by this addiction.

Why Opiate Addiction Is an Issue

When you first consider the crisis that is opiate addiction, you may be tempted to think it is an issue for “other people,” those who are using illegal drugs. While street drugs certainly contribute to the issue, the category of opiates expands to prescription medications as well. Common opiates include the prescription painkillers morphine, codeine, dilaudid, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl.

Doctors prescribe opium-derived painkillers for acute pain as well as following surgeries and other procedures, mostly because they’re highly effective. However, after taking opiates for as little as a few days, they can become addictive. When a person begins to rely on them for pain relief, they develop a much bigger challenge.

The Statistics of Opiate Addiction

Many seek opiate addiction help because the results of addiction are so devastating. Between June 2017 and April 2018, more than 7,200 possible opiate overdoses and deaths were reported in Arizona. Of those, 51% had received a prescription for an opium-derived medication. The study also found that 34% of people who overdosed were only on prescription drugs.

It’s clear that Arizona opiate addiction help is needed by more people than fall into any stereotype. This addiction can affect anyone at any time.

Arizona Opiate Addiction Help at Direct2Recovery

There are a number of approaches for providing Arizona opiate addiction help, and most involve switching from the opiate to another medication. At Direct2Recovery, we partner Suboxone with counseling. Suboxone is the brand name for a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, medications commonly used for opiate addiction.

Patient can use Suboxone as a stepping-stone to aid in the transition from opiates to be drug free. Alternately, it may be a long-term maintenance therapy. How, exactly, you will need to take this medicine will depend on your individual needs and the treatment plan prescribed by your physician.

If you or a loved one is in need to Arizona opiate addiction help, please contact Direct2Recovery. We provide confidential, respectful treatment to help you regain control of your life and find balance again.