Will Outpatient Opioid Addiction Treatment Work for Me?
Unlike stimulants and hallucinogens, opioid drugs produce a sedative effect, which can make it more difficult to spot signs of abuse or addiction. That being so, by the time opioid addiction sets in the damage done to the brain’s chemical system can be just as widespread as a cocaine or LSD addiction.
For these reasons, it’s especially important to receive the level of care that best addresses your individual treatment needs.
Opioid Addiction Effects
Opioid addiction produces two types of effects: a physical dependence and a psychological dependence. According to the Journal of Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, addiction-based behaviors develop out of brain abnormalities that take shape during the course of opiate abuse. While detox treatment helps eliminate the body’s physical dependence on opioids, addiction, per se, has more to do with the psychological dependence that results from chronic opioid abuse.
Factors to Consider
Length of Time Using Drugs
Outpatient treatment isn’t a good option for someone lacking a strong support system at home.
The psychological aftereffects of opioid addiction account for the compulsive need to seek out and use drugs. This compulsion takes on a lifestyle of its own, dictating a person’s thinking, emotions and daily priorities. Under these conditions, outpatient opioid addiction treatment can work provided a person enters treatment during the early stages of drug use.
Support System
Having a healthy support system available is essential to a successful recovery process, regardless of whether a person enters a residential or outpatient treatment program. A healthy support system becomes a central component when developing a drug-free lifestyle. The need for a healthy support system is even greater for people receiving outpatient treatment help considering the degree of freedom afforded through these programs.
Motivation
A person’s motivation to get well has a considerable influence on his or her progress in recovery. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, highly motivated individuals can adapt more readily to the types of mental and behavioral changes that the recovery process requires. Someone who wants to get well in order to be a better parent or keep his or her job will be motivated to follow through on treatment directives, so outpatient opioid addiction treatment may well be a good fit.
Outpatient Opioid Addiction Treatment Considerations
For many people, opioid addiction treatment entails a process made up of different treatment levels or intensities, each of which differs in terms of structure and flexibility. Outpatient programs provide the least amount of structure so a person should be fairly grounded within the recovery process before entering this type of program. Ultimately, outpatient opioid addiction treatment can be a first step in recovery or one of many steps in the recovery process.
https://www.disorders.org/opioid-use-disorder/how-opioid-use-affects-user-behavior/
If you or someone you know is considering opioid addiction treatment and have more questions about the treatment process in general, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialist.
