Medication-Assisted Treatment in West Palm Beach

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The early stages of addiction recovery can be very challenging. This is especially true when you experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Medication-assisted treatment might be the best intervention because of the uncomfortable effects of withdrawal and powerful cravings that still linger.

WHAT IS MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT?

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is one of many effective ways to treat a drug or alcohol addiction. This form of treatment uses medications and counseling to provide a holistic approach to treating substance use disorder.

With FDA-approved medications, a MAT program is designed to meet your individual needs. Research has shown that combining medication and therapy not only improves the chances of successful recovery from substance abuse disorders but can also help you maintain a sober life.

Medication-assisted addiction treatment at a West Palm Beach facility can help you manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. By receiving the right combination of comprehensive treatments, you can reduce your chances of relapse.

HOW DOES MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT WORK?

Medication-assisted treatment blocks or reduces the effects drugs or alcohol have on the brain. In addition to alleviating withdrawal symptoms, preventing relapse, and reducing cravings, MAT can also help to:

• Facilitate therapy
• Safer and easier opioid withdrawal
• Block euphoric reactions
• Normalize your brain activity
• Free you to focus on personal responsibilities

MEDICATIONS USED DURING ADDICTION TREATMENT IN WEST PALM BEACH

There are several FDA-approved medications that your doctor may prescribe. The type of medication used, individual challenges, and needs determine the duration of medication-assisted treatment in West Palm Beach. To give you an idea, here are several of the medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration prescribed during medication-assisted treatment.

Naltrexone

Used for people with opioid addiction and alcohol use disorder. Naltrexone can also be prescribed for anyone who is not currently using it. There are harmful effects to taking this drug if the patient has opioid dependence.

Suboxone

As a drug primarily used to treat opioid addiction, Suboxone works to block the positive feelings associated with opioids. By changing the relaxation, euphoria, and pain relief that opioids bring, the desire for the drug wanes.

Vivitrol

Another name for Vivitrol is naltrexone, which is a drug used for medication-assisted treatment, often administered intravenously. This drug should not be used while drinking alcohol or taking addictive drugs.

Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen

This medication combination is used to relieve pain. However, if the client has an opioid dependency, these pain medications are not used due to their high potential for abuse and addiction.

Naloxone

Naloxone is a full opioid antagonist, meaning it inhibits any substance’s effect on opioid receptors, including prescription and illegal opioids. It is a medicine used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. Naloxone is used to avoid overdose deaths caused by opioid overdose. This medication is not used for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

BENEFITS OF RECEIVING MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT

Medication-assisted treatment from a West Palm Beach facility provides life-saving benefits during the detox process. Along with behavioral therapy and social support services, these recovery maintenance medications help you succeed by offering chances of:

• Cost-effective treatment
• A safe and comfortable place to detox
• Reducing cravings for drugs or alcohol
• Reducing the chance of relapsing
• Improving social interactions
• Reducing the risk of contracting an infectious disease
• Lowering drug-related criminal activity
• Avoiding an opioid overdose or death

Long-term, MAT offers benefits that include:

• Improving chances of addiction treatment retention and relapse prevention
• Higher employment rate
• Lower risks of contracting HIV and hepatitis C

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT?

One of the main goals of medication-assisted treatment is to keep you in an environment where specific conditions can be controlled as you go through the early stages of recovery from alcohol or drug addiction.

Once your treatment team ensures these conditions are met, they will begin to taper you off the medication prescribed under your treatment plan. At this point, you should be able to use positive functioning behaviors before negative coping skills.

By giving you a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment, the ultimate goal of medication-assisted treatment is for you to fully recover. You will be equipped to live a self-directed life with the tools you receive.

MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT VS. MEDICATION-BASED TREATMENT

Medication-assisted treatment and medication-based treatment are popular forms of treating substance dependency. Although both are closely related in practice, there are some distinct differences.

An FDA-approved medication regimen is used during MAT to treat a drug or alcohol addiction. With medication-based treatment, patients receive a less intoxicating substitute of their drug of choice, particularly opioids, to treat their addiction.

In theory, this allows the patient to get to a physical state where they can successfully go through rehabilitation and counseling. In some cases, completely removing a drug of choice, as with MAT, is not the best treatment option.

Giving a person smaller doses of a drug similar to their addiction while under medical supervision helps them long-term. Successful medication-based treatment leads to fewer mood swings and cravings to continue abusing.

With medication-based treatment, it is important for the physician to make sure the person does not continue using the stronger drug. If this happens, the risks of long-term health issues or even death increase.

Deciding that you are ready to begin recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction is a major step. Knowing where to begin may seem daunting with the various treatment options. Speaking with treatment professionals can help you make difficult decisions to improve your quality of life.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT DURING MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT

Making the decision to receive medication-assisted treatment at a West Palm Beach facility puts you on a comprehensive path to recovery. From detoxification to aftercare, a good program covers every aspect of overcoming addiction and leading a healthy, productive, and sober life.

Medically Supervised Detoxification

The first treatment step towards overcoming an addiction begins with detoxification. MAT goes one step further by ensuring you can detox in a safe and comfortable environment. FDA-approved medications are administered to help soothe withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Nausea
• Headaches
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Cravings

Personalized Therapy Sessions

Once you complete the detoxification program, you move into the therapeutic recovery phase. Through a medication-assisted treatment plan in West Palm Beach, therapy gives you a chance to recover from more than the physical aspects of addiction.

Psychological causes of drug or alcohol abuse are addressed. These sessions give you opportunities to discuss the underlying reasons why you developed a substance use problem. Additionally, you can learn coping mechanisms to help you heal.

Even when two people are addicted to the same type of drug or alcohol, their experiences are different. Fortunately, MAT programs provide personalized treatment plans to meet your needs.

Some of the common forms of therapy used during MAT may include:

• 12-Step facilitation sessions
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Contingency Management
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Family Counseling
• Gender-specific counseling
• Individual Therapy
• Mental health therapies for co-occurring conditions
• Motivational Interviewing

Your treatment team will conduct a thorough assessment to determine your needs and goals. Doing this ensures you receive support to make a full recovery.

Medication Management

In addition to detoxification and therapy services, a solid MAT treatment program also offers access to physicians for medical care to treat any health conditions. Trained professionals develop your treatment plan based on the depth of your addiction.

Medication management is necessary if the following instances are present:

• Existing medical or mental health issues
• Potential public health risks associated with injection drug abuse
• Outpatient detoxification treatments
• Opioid treatment programs
• Previous substance abuse treatment is not effective

Aftercare

Recovery from alcohol or drug addiction is a lifelong journey. Transitioning out of treatment increases the risk of relapse during the first few months. Daily, you will continue working towards leading a sober life.

Good aftercare planning after you receive medication-assisted treatment in West Palm Beach can help you stay on track. An aftercare plan typically includes resources, interventions, and activities that help you stay focused.

Your therapist will work with you to create an individualized plan for long-term sobriety. The aftercare plan may include:

• Access to sober living homes
• Ongoing medication management
• Ongoing individual and group therapy
• Resources for recognizing triggers
• Positive coping mechanisms

TAKE THE FIRST STEP ON YOUR RECOVERY JOURNEY

Are you ready to take control of your life and the addiction that has been plaguing you? The first step to living a full and purposeful life begins with a call to Allure Detox. We offer solutions that work with a proven medication-assisted treatment program in West Palm Beach.

Allure Detox is here to support your recovery with MAT to help you avoid the debilitating withdrawal symptoms that can discourage you from continuing your healing journey. We understand the importance of a holistic program that helps you attain long-term sobriety.

Make the call today and speak with one of our intake counselors to learn more about your options.

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Published on: 2022-06-19
Updated on: 2023-11-03