Opioids are a class of medication that is designed to help with the relief of pain. The medications are frequently prescribed to those who are experiencing chronic pain. There are many medications in the class of opioids, including hydrocodone, codeine, oxycodone, morphine and many others.

Opioids are known to be highly addictive when not taken properly and abuse of this medication unfortunately leads individuals down the path of dependence and addiction. Once a person has developed a problem, addiction treatment is needed.

The Difference between Opioid Dependence and Opioid Addiction

There is a difference between someone who has become dependent on opioids and someone who has an addiction to opioids. Opioid dependence occurs as a result of the body becoming physically dependent on the drug to help provide the necessary relief from pain. Dependence is the result of tolerance building up in the system where higher doses become required in order for the patient to experience relief from pain. When a patient becomes dependent on a medication like this it can be tough for a doctor to diagnose if there is an increased level of tolerance that has been developed requiring a higher dosage, or if an addiction has developed.

An opioid addiction can include varying levels of physical dependence and tolerance. Addiction could also be indicated when a patient is doing all that they can to try to find ways to secure more of the drug, often by visiting multiple doctors. When an addiction becomes apparent the only effective solution is to find opioid addiction treatment.

Treatment at an Inpatient Opioid Rehab Center

Someone who has an addiction to opioids will have a very difficult problem to deal with. It is one that should not be handled alone and the patient could be subject to a relapse if they do not seek the proper assistance. This is where an inpatient opioid rehab center can be of vital help. A facility that has experience in dealing with this type of problem can provide the right treatment, including the following steps:

• Opioid Detox – In order for treatment for an opioid addiction to be effective, it first needs to start with an opioid detox program. The detox program will allow the patient to get the drugs out of their system. There are certain medications that help to wean a patient off of the opioid and ease the withdrawal. This process can be very harsh and difficult, but it’s a necessary step. Often medications such as methadone, naltrexone and buprenorphine are used to help reduce the cravings for opioids and ease the withdrawal symptoms.
• Counseling and Therapy – Going through opioid detox alone is not enough to help a patient sufficiently deal with his or her addiction. As a part of an opioid addiction treatment there are several forms of counseling and therapy that are often used at an inpatient facility. This includes very intensive one-on-one counseling sessions with an experienced professional therapist to deal with the patient’s behaviors. Our facility also make use of holistic methods to combine different therapeutic approaches for a more complete healing of the mind, body and spirit.
• Ongoing Treatment – Even after a patient has completed a program at an inpatient opioid rehab center there will be outpatient treatments that should be continued to help provide on-going support so the patient can steer clear of any possible relapse. This involves ongoing therapy either in a one-on-one basis with a therapist or counselor, group counseling therapy or other options that are made available to patients.