Category: Opiate withdrawal

Rehabilitation of any kind begins with discontinuing the use of the abused substance and then flushing out whatever is left in the system. This is to stop the damage caused by the toxicity of the substance taken so that the body could readjust itself to the normal body chemistry. In the case of dope sick, those who had a heroin addiction profess that medical detox is the single worst thing they had ever experienced in their life, as their ability to feel pain is restored.

No form of rehabilitation, therapy, or addiction treatment could begin if the patient has not gone through medical detox yet. This is a phase that should be strictly done within the clinical confines of a medical detox center, as many who undergo withdrawal from substances often find the experience to be more than what they could bear, and it is not uncommon for patients to undergo complications as well. This is why there is a need for the presence of clinically-trained professionals during medical detox, and why it needs to be done in a hospital environment.

There are many cases during detox where the patient is not able to overcome the intense urge to use the substance that they are trying to quit. In other cases, the patient is willing but unable to handle the immense stress of the withdrawal that comes with the process. In these instances, the patient is often given medication-assisted treatment (MAD) where medication is used to mitigate the distress felt by the patient, quell the overpowering urges to use substances again, or remove the addictive sensations provided by the substance.

Depending upon the attending physician, buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone could be used in the treatment of opioid use disorders involving the use of heroin, morphine, and codeine, as well as semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. These medications are the most common choices as they are safe to use for varying periods of treatment, which could stretch out for months, years, or even a lifetime.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used psychotherapy treatment forms today. This approach allows patients to isolate negative thought patterns or impulses that often lead to a bad outcome. The most common example of this is when a person is faced with painful memories or when confronted with highly-charged emotional situations, the person will automatically resort to alcohol or drugs to mitigate the emotional pain they feel. In many instances, there is no prior thought that goes on before they resort to using alcohol or drugs, they just do so because they feel emotional pain.

The objective of this approach is to identify such negative responses and veer away from them. The trouble often comes from not being able to identify the point where they decide to use drugs or alcohol to deal with the pain they feel. Once they identify these thoughts as they come and what could result from them, avoiding them becomes much easier.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an approach derived from CBT and is a popular treatment for severe mental health conditions that typically cause self-harm, high-risk behavior, or even suicidal ideation. The main difference between DBT and CBT is that DBT focuses on validating and accepting negative thought patterns or emotions rather than isolating and avoiding them, which is mostly what CBT teaches.

By learning to validate and accept the negative thoughts and feelings that typically induce negative behavioral responses, a person begins to understand that it is all part of being a human being. As such, they should not punish themselves so much for having these negative thoughts and feelings and seek help in addressing them. This approach posits that positive change becomes difficult for people because they continue to blame and punish themselves for having such negative thoughts and emotions.

This approach is somewhat similar to what DBT does for an individual who is facing an internal crisis that leads to self-harm. Somatic experiencing therapy puts a focus on facing past events with a relaxed mind. Facing traumatic events in the past with a relaxed and objective mind allows a person to have a better insight into what happened, what effect it had on them, and how best to move forward from it.

This approach deals with the minute details of bad experiences such as trauma and addresses each bit slowly but purposefully. ensuring that the entire situation is understood fully, so that acceptance and resolution of the issue are done fully as well.

There are many instances where a person could have an undiagnosed mental health issue that eventually leads to substance abuse. This is not an uncommon matter with people who also incidentally deal with chronic pain, and as a consequence, get addicted to painkillers, opioids, or marijuana. Self-medication is one of the most prominent traits of people with a dual diagnosis, as they mostly fear having to seek professional help for fear they are more damaged than they believe themselves to be.

Dual diagnosis treatment in Arizona addresses both the mental health issue and the substance abuse disorder simultaneously, as there is a need to treat both at the same time. There is a high probability in this instance that treating one issue before treating the other could lead to the untreated issue getting worse. In other instances, no progress could be had by treating one issue before the other because both as so intertwined that they cannot simply be processed separately. Contact us and know more about our marijuana addiction treatment before it’s too late.