About Medication Assisted Therapy for Addiction
Addiction is a very serious condition, that if left untreated, can result in death. Around the world, there are millions of men, women, and even young adolescents who are addicted to alcohol, painkillers, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other drugs. Each year, some of these people will make the decision to get help at a Thailand rehab for addiction. Some of them will have tried to quit on their own, but were unsuccessful. Others will be getting ready to be treated at a rehab for the first time in their life. What everyone will have in common when they go to rehab for addiction, is that they will be seeking a better life. That life typically begins with an addiction detox.
Although it is certainly possible for some people to not have to go through a detoxification, most will. The length of the detox will vary and depend on the persons’ drug of choice, length of time they used the drug, and other factors. The average detox is three days, with some lasting for one week or more. Certain people will also be treated with medication. This is known as medication assisted therapy, and is highly beneficial for people with addictions to painkillers, opiates/opioids, benzodiazepines, and other select substances.
Drug Overdoses in Leading Opiate/Opioid Using Countries
In the United States, drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental deaths. In 2017, 72,000 people lost their lives to an overdose on drugs. In Australia, 2,177 people lost their lives in 2016 to an overdose. This number was over double the amount of deaths in 2012. In England and Wales, deaths from overdoses are at an all time high with 4,359 people losing their life in 2018. Sixty-eight per cent of these deaths involved an opioid.
Opioids are a certain class of drugs that include Fentanyl, Vicodin, OxyContin, Morphine, Percocet, Heroin (an opiate), and other prescription painkillers. When legal painkillers are used just as prescribed, they can be tremendously beneficial. Chronic pain is reduced or alleviated, and recovery can be sped up because of the ability to focus less on the pain and more on other things.
Conversely, when an opiate or opioid is used outside of prescribing guidelines, or recreationally, they can be highly addictive. Within a short time, the abuse of the drug can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction. For many people who are addicted to opiates/opioids, all it might take is one extra hit to cause them to overdose or die.
Part of the high recreational consumption can be linked to pharmaceutical companies, who in the 1990s’, were accused of touting painkillers as being non-addictive. Another reason for the heavy use is the medical industry which is rife with doctors who are overprescribing the painkillers. In the United States, at least 300 million prescriptions were written in 2015.
Medication Assisted Therapy at Rehab
Medication assisted therapy for an opiate/opioid addiction has the ability to save lives, especially those of people who are walking a thin line between life and death. A number of clinical research studies have demonstrated that a person who is receiving medication assisted therapy at rehab, while recovering from an addiction to opiates/opioids, may reduce their risk of a future relapse and overdose.
There are also benefits that will be immediately noticeable by a person participating at a detox at a Thailand rehab for addiction. For example, methadone or buprenorphine might help to decrease the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include severe shaking, stomach cramping, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, the chills, a fever, and more.
Depending on the individuals’ needs medication assisted therapy for an opioid addiction may be offered during the detox only. Some clinical doctors, including psychiatrists, will recommend continuing the medication for the duration of the rehab programme or even after. Both methadone and buprenorphine are most commonly used in a medication assisted detox. They are fast acting and quickly bind to the brains’ opiate receptors. Once this happens, the patient will notice a significant reduction in their withdrawal symptoms, but not experience the high-like feeling. When these medications are used for an extended period of time, they can rebalance the chemical makeup in the brain, which can help a person to recover.
Final Benefits of Medication Addiction Therapy At Rehab in Thailand
People who are a candidate for medication assisted therapy can benefit from many things, including:
- They solidify their recovery
- They increase their chance of survival (by not using drugs anymore)
- They reduce their risk of an overdose
- They minimise the risk of developing a blood borne disease
Medication assisted therapy at rehab in Thailand is much more than taking a pill and attending counselling session. Rather, it is an intricate process that is supported by medical doctors, nurses, and a team of addiction specialists. Each of these people will work with the patient to ensure their safety, comfort, and recovery.
Medication Assisted Therapy for an Opioid Addiction
Medication assisted therapy is now, more than ever, available at rehab, and most facilities will offer the treatment, in some form. The therapy is designed to meet the needs of the individual. This includes the type of medication, how long the prescription will last, the dosage, and the therapies a patient will participate in.
The best addiction rehabs in Thailand, such as Siam Rehab, will never rely solely on any medication to treat and addiction. Instead, a leading facility will understand and appreciate the value that medications can possess. As such they will be carefully prescribed and utilised accordingly, and alongside an in-depth treatment programme.
At Siam Rehab, you can feel peace of mind in knowing you are in a safe place, and one in which your recovery comes first. If you or a loved one has an addiction to opiates or opioids, and are ready to get help, please call Siam Rehab today or contact us online.
Read more about medication assisted therapy here:
https://siamrehab.com/how-to-travel-during-medication-assisted-therapy/
https://siamrehab.com/medications-to-treat-addiction/
Sources:
http://www.penington.org.au/australias-annual-overdose-report-2018/
