Pain pill addiction on its own, or when it leads to the use of illicit street drugs like heroin or fentanyl, has had a crushing effect on American society over the past few decades.
In fact, a recent study out of Penn State University College of Medicine found that over a 15 year period between the beginning of 1999 and the end of 2013, opioid use disorder (OUD) cost the US economy some $74.2 billion.
The economic toll of opioid addiction has been devastating, but the human toll has been truly tragic. A staggering 128 people die from an overdose of opioids every day in this country.
Thankfully, we now have effective treatment options for opioid dependence. So if you’re struggling to get back on track, follow along as we go through effective inpatient and outpatient treatment options that can help you turn your life around.
You Are Not Alone
If you’re struggling with addiction, remember that you’re not alone. The fact is that over 2.5 million Americans suffer from opioid addiction. And, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, over 10.3 million US citizens aged 12 or older misuse opioids each year.
Opioid addiction has a grip on millions of people all around the world. Regular, everyday people are just looking to live their lives to the fullest, only to be stopped in their tracks by opioids.
So you’re not alone in this process, millions share your struggle, and millions have overcome it.
There are a number of treatment options that can help you to do the same, beating your opioid addiction starts today.
Outpatient Treatment Options
Outpatient treatment should be your first option when it comes to recovery. For the vast majority of people, evidence-based outpatient treatment is sufficient for recovery. Only if outpatient treatment is ineffective should higher levels of care be considered.
Outpatient Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
The only treatment that is proven effective is Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). It is critical that you start your recovery under the supervision of specially trained medical providers.
Outpatient MAT is your best option for pain pill addiction treatment at home. A medical provider can prescribe oral medications such as Suboxone® or give you monthly injections of Sublocade®. Both medications accomplish the same thing, allowing you to restart your life. A key part of MAT is the accessibility of effective counseling from addiction specialists to help keep you on track to recovery.
For many opioid users, the fear of withdrawal keeps them from ever pursuing treatment. MAT will eliminate withdrawal symptoms and cravings so that you can get started on your journey towards recovery.
How Do Suboxone® and Sublocade® Work?
The active ingredient in Suboxone® and Sublocade® is buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is part of a class of opioids called partial agonists. Unlike pain pills, which perfectly fit the brain’s opioid receptors, buprenorphine attaches to the receptors but does not fit exactly. As a result, patients do not feel withdrawal symptoms and should feel little to no craving for pain pills. And, just as importantly, patients do not experience the same sense of euphoria that they can when taking their pain pills. That euphoric feeling can get in the way of normal life.
Patients who take their Suboxone® daily or receive a monthly injection of Sublocade® are clear-headed and avoid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. This allows them to get back to work and back to a functioning life.
Conclusion and Pain Pill Addiction Resources
At the end of the day, pain pill addiction is a burden no one should have to carry. It can lead you down a dark path that seems inescapable. Still, recovery from pain pill addiction is possible. Millions of Americans have overcome this terrible affliction. Hopefully, one of these treatment options could help you do the same.
Just remember, if you ever need help with pain pill addiction, you can always call the national addiction hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or contact any of these resources:
- Medication-Assisted Treatment Options
- Surgeon General’s Report on Facing Addiction in America
- The US Department of Health and Human Services Opioid Addiction Resources
- MedlinePlus Resources for Opiate Addicts
Opioid addiction may be crippling your life, but there is help out there to turn things around. Just by reading this article, you’ve started on the path to recovery. With help, you can beat this addiction.
Ready to start your road to recovery? MATClinics is a Maryland-based outpatient Suboxone® Clinic that offers a truly personalized experience for each patient. We are committed to helping you succeed in your recovery and have the tools to help you start. Visit one of our clinics around Maryland, or contact MATClinics for more information to start.