Boston can accommodate treatment for many area individuals attempting to cope with an opioid addiction. Boston has numerous physicians who can provide prescriptions for buprenorphine, which is the active ingredient in suboxone that eliminates opioid withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone has emerged in recent years as a popular alternative to methadone that usually provides complete relief for those people experiencing a moderate degree of opioid withdrawal. More extensive opioid addictions are sometimes better treated with methadone. However, suboxone should be considered as an option if opioid replacement therapy is medically justified for a patient’s opiate addiction. If you are a local physician aiming to treat Boston area residents, you may purchase a featured listing at the top of this page insuring that your medical services will be found by prospective patients searching our website for quality opioid treatment.
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Expanding Access to Methadone
Critics have begun to express the belief that clinic restrictions are cumbersome and that methadone should be made available for pick-up at local pharmacies. On the other hand, the concern remains that methadone can be misdirected or mishandled thus reinforcing the need for close supervision, particularly in the early phases of opioid treatment. Decades of research has shown that taken under proper supervision, methadone’s safety profile is excellent. In this recent era of contaminated street opiates and overdose concerns, it is clear that methadone is a phenomenally effective medication for promoting health, well-being, and physical safety. Mark Parrino, president of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, recently shared that deregulation of methadone would likely increase the diversion of methadone and methadone-related overdose deaths. Following a period of stability, most U.S. clinics do allow patients to begin dosing at home with methadone. This system of care is working well throughout the country where methadone is readily available. However, many U.S. citizens are still lengthy distances from methadone-approved clinics. So, the challenge continues to link those with opioid addiction to effective resources in their local community. Legislators are presently examining a range of options as the opioid epidemic marches on.
Posted in Acadia Healthcare, Addiction Treatment, Brightview, Methadone, Methadone Clinics, Opioid Treatment, Suboxone
Tagged Methadone Access
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Learning Recovery Through Counseling
Medication assistance is key in managing opioid withdrawal sickness, but counseling offers the opportunity to learn valuable skills like identifying common high risk triggers for relapse and methods for reducing that risk. Addiction is a complex illness. Many patients who achieve early stability with methadone or suboxone will relax their commitment to treatment. They let their guard down and begin to take shortcuts. This is a frequent issue in treatment clinics that often leads to relapse. Sustained recovery from addiction requires a full commitment to change. Individual counseling and group counseling provide the necessary roadmap for staying on the recovery path. Counseling allows patients to achieve a deeper understanding of the challenges they will face as they learn to live drug free. Opioid addiction can seriously impact a person’s life in many areas, and climbing out of that hole is not easy. Making the correct recovery-based decisions can at times be confusing, and even feel overwhelming. This is where the value of support & input from a counselor, stable friends, and concerned others can make a real difference. Most MAT clinics and physician practices across the U.S. provide counseling as a component of their opioid treatment program. Participate in these services. These sessions with a therapist or in a counseling group can greatly enhance your ability to stay on course, and ride out the difficult days that you will certainly encounter. There is no replacement for commitment and positive action. These are the foundation of success when true recovery is the goal.
Posted in Addiction Counseling, Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Clinics, Suboxone
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Buprenorphine After Overdose Facilitates Treatment
The current protocol for paramedics and emergency departments in treating opioid overdose is to administer naloxone in order to reverse the effects of overdose. A recently published study showed that also providing buprenorphine immediately afterward reduced withdrawal discomfort and increased outpatient addiction follow-up care. A separate article referenced data showing a nearly six-fold increase in patients accessing outpatient addiction treatment within 30 days of the overdose event. These are highly encouraging finds which demonstrate the far-reaching effectiveness of medication-assistance in the treatment of opioid addiction. Saving a life through overdose reversal is obviously a critical benefit, but increasing motivation for follow-up treatment is a huge step in helping addicted individuals plug into a long-term solution. Structured treatment which utilizes medication-assistance provides so much to those aspiring to face their addiction challenges. Naloxone, buprenorphine, and methadone have saved countless lives, and these medications have provided an unrivaled opportunity for those in opioid addiction to plot a new path in life.
Posted in Addiction Treatment, Buprenorphine, Fentanyl, Methadone, Methadone Clinics, Opioid Treatment, Overdose Prevention, Suboxone
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Caution: Street Oxycodone Might Be Fentanyl
The drug bust removed enough fentanyl pills to kill over 1 million people, and the suspected dealer now faces federal charges for possessing a large quantity of synthetic opioids. Of particular concern was that the fentanyl doses had been pressed into a familiar pill that was indistinguishable from that provided in a typical oxycodone prescription. So oxycodone obtained on the street now presents with a much higher risk of fatal overdose than was previously thought. The article reported that large quantities of fentanyl continue to come across the U.S. southern border. The U.S. Senate is currently examining how this influx of fentanyl is impacting American communities as drug seizures hit historic levels. Those currently struggling in active opioid addiction should explore getting professional help as soon as possible. Fentanyl “in disguise” is making its way across the country. Learn About: Acadia’s Comprehensive Treatment Centers
Posted in Benzodiazepine, Brightview, Drug Safety, Fentanyl, Methadone, Prescription Drugs, Suboxone
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