Addiction Archives - Page 9 of 9 - Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

The End of Cookie Cutters: Truly Individualized Opioid Recovery

Posted on July 12, 2020 by cmarnew

At CMAR, Colorado’s first recovery-oriented and clinically driven opioid recovery program, we work with our patients to identify the most appropriate course for them, while still ensuring that they receive all of the clinical care and social support necessary for recovery.

Medication-assisted treatment, pure harm-reduction, and abstinence-based care are the three primary “umbrellas” of treatment for opioid dependence. There are certainly other methods, but these are the most common and researched approaches offered in the US.

Any program that claims to be individualized, and then offers only one “path” to achieving abstinence, by definition is only partially individualized. At CMAR, we recognize those limitations, so despite a somewhat misleading name, we offer treatment for opioid dependence (and co-occurring disorders) using abstinence, medication-assisted, and harm reduction. Our goal is to meet our patients where they’re at and treat their needs. If those needs call for a patient to remain abstinent or achieve abstinence after a Suboxone taper, we support that. If a patient just wants Vivitrol and clinical care, we will proudly offer them that care. At CMAR, medication-assisted treatment is option, but therapy and community are not. We recognize that there is no alternative to the processing and learning of new “tools” derived from therapy and that there is no replacement for the support and love of one’s peers.

Recovery is a personal, ongoing process of personal development, yet one-size-fits-all programs cannot honor that truth. For that very reason, we built our program with the intention of guiding patients through the format of care that they seek, and that is clinically and medically indicated. We are proud to provide medication-assisted treatment, yet we fully recognize that this “MAT” is not the only way.

Learn More at www.Colorado-Recovery.com or call (720) 778 2627.

The Importance of On-Site and Remote Opioid Treatment

Posted on July 11, 2020 by cmarnew

Recovery from opioid dependence is a difficult, but life-saving endeavor. The process can involve many ups and downs and demands a lifelong commitment to change in order to avoid relapse.

But the good news is that it can be done, through integrated-care including medications, clinical treatment, accountability, and peer-support. The only problem is that with only one integrated care program in Colorado (Colorado Medication-Assisted Recovery) only people in Metro Denver can actually get to the in-person program just North of the city limits.

Thankfully, no matter where someone lives in the state, CMAR’s remote treatment option offers unparalleled treatment services for people addicted to opioids. Both have their benefits, but they are equally effective at empowering patients to achieve a lasting, lifelong recovery.

CMAR’s in-person program is a completely unique approach to treatment for Colorado. We fuse addiction medicine, group, individual, and family therapy, with peer support and accountability for an unmatched recovery experience. Just off of I-25 in Thornton, CMAR is easily accessible to anyone in the central, west, east, and north metro Denver areas. But outside that part of the state, it’s not accessible in person.

Enter CMAR-Remote: Our Telehealth-based, HIPAA compliant, full-service integrated Medication Assisted Recovery program provides all of the services as our in-person program. CMAR-Remote is Colorado’s first and only web-based treatment program to offer a combination of addiction medicine, intensive outpatient counseling (including individual, group, and family therapy), wraparound case-management and peer support, plus urinalysis! Every aspect of a patient’s opioid dependence treatment is now accessible from home, enabling those with mobility issues, those outside of North Metro Denver, and those who are otherwise unable to make it to our physical center regularly, to receive the most comprehensive treatment available.

Whether at our physical center or on the web, at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we are 100% focused on treating individuals suffering from opioid dependence and any co-occurring addiction and mental health concerns.

Learn More at www.Colorado-Recovery.com or call (720) 778-2627

The Current Opioid Crisis: What You Need to Know

Posted on July 10, 2020 by cmarnew

The opioid crisis has reached new heights in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 128 people die per day as a result of overdosing on opioids. Opioid addiction treatment centers in Colorado continue to see more patients as addiction rates soar.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) includes addictions to prescription pain medication, fentanyl, heroin, and similar drugs. This epidemic has resulted in nearly $80 billion annually in treatment costs and criminal justice involvement. What is the opioid crisis? How did it start, and what are the solutions? To learn more about opioid addiction treatment, contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery at 833.448.0127 today.

How Did the Opioid Crisis Begin?

The popularity of opioids began in the 1990s when pharmaceutical companies mass-produced prescriptions for pain relief and muscle relaxation. Although there was concern about the addictive properties of the drugs early on, pharmaceutical companies assured the medical industry and the public that patients would not become addicted to the substances.

Convinced of this, doctors and treatment specialists began prescribing opioids at alarming rates almost from the beginning. As the prescription rates increased, the addiction rates increased. By 2017 almost 50,000 Americans died from an overdose, and nearly 2 million people experienced substance abuse. Many Americans required help from a dual diagnosis treatment program.

Current Opioid Use Statistics

NIDA has currently released opioid use statistics that users and medical professionals should find alarming. These statistics include:

Nearly 30 percent of patients who use opioids for pain management misuse them
Over 10 percent of users develop an addiction or dependency to opioids
Up to 6 percent of users who abuse opioids end up using heroin
Nearly 80 percent of people who use heroin also abused their first opioid prescription
There was a decline in opioid-related overdoses in 38 states between 2017 and 2018

What are the Solutions to the Crisis?

NIDA and other agencies have declared that opioid use has become a public health crisis in the U.S. due to the number of overdoses, fatalities, and addictions in both men and women. Both government agencies and private entities have taken drastic steps toward alerting the public about the current problem. These steps include:

Improving Addiction Treatment Services

One of the biggest steps to addressing the current crisis is by improving the way treatment centers help clients. Addiction treatment services include evidence-based treatment (EBT), dual diagnosis treatment, and aftercare programs that promote a sustainable recovery without relapse.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Addiction treatment centers in Colorado are including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) into their programs as a supplement to therapy and support. Buprenorphine, suboxone, and naltrexone are among the opioid antagonists that reduce cravings and the effects of withdrawal symptoms during recovery.

Increased Monitoring of the Crisis

Through advanced technology and accountability, agencies are improving the way they monitor the current opioid crisis. We are now getting a better understanding of how and why the drugs are being prescribed and how the public is responding to the accessibility of these drugs. Agencies are also obtaining more accurate figures about the crisis.

Better Practices for Pain Management

The more we understand what causes pain, the more we can come up with holistic alternatives to prescription medication. Support for research on pain and addiction has increased significantly, as researchers explore new options. It is important that we move beyond the crisis by giving patients better solutions to managing their pain. With our chronic pain management program, we give you the tools you need to manage your pain effectively without medication.

Are You Addicted to Opioids? Get Help at CMAR

In spite of the opioid crisis, help is available for addiction. Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery offers treatment for opioid addiction at our medication-assisted treatment center in Colorado. To find out more about your treatment options, contact us at 833.448.0127, and speak with a treatment specialist today.

Stigma in Outpatient Rehab: Why Opioid-Dependent People Need Their Own Program

Posted on July 10, 2020 by cmarnew

Opiate addiction is a unique disorder, that requires specialized care. Among other things, this means that opioid-dependent individuals need an outpatient treatment program just for them, tailored to their needs alone. This may sound ridiculous because chemical-addiction is chemical-addiction, but there’s more to it than that.

Just because nearly every treatment program treats all addictions, doesn’t make that approach the best course of action. Certainly, opioid-addicts achieve recovery in general “addiction treatment”, but statistically their rate of success is far below that of their alcoholic, benzodiazepine, and stimulant-addicted counterparts. This is for a variety of reasons…

Research tells us that abstinence-only treatment, in which addicted persons are made to stop absolutely all potentially mood-altering substances is not effective for those with acute opioid dependence.

The majority of opioid-addicts relapse and frequently die following an attempt at total abstinence, though some do “make it”. This isn’t to say that the solution is to continue recreational drug use or to be on MAT forever. Rather, research has proven that a combination of opioid replacement medications like Suboxone or Naltrexone (for a period of time) plus structured and comprehensive therapy, and peer-support, leads to unmatched success rates. This is the beauty of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).

The problem with integrating MAT into traditional treatment is more than just the difference in treatment approaches… The problem is stigma. Traditional treatment, which often uses 12-step as the primary intervention, preaches total abstinence. Unfortunately, even if treatment is segregated between those practicing abstinence and those on MAT, the patients on MAT will exist in an unsupportive environment. The patients practicing abstinence routinely stigmatize those on MAT, leading to heightened stress, a feeling of being “different”, and even the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we are completely dedicated to treating individuals suffering from opioid dependence and co-occurring addictions and mental health conditions. This enables us to cultivate a community of supportive individuals, all with a similar story. Whether a patient does a rapid-taper and gets totally off of MAT medications, or they remain on it for a longer period of time, every CMAR patients has “been there” and can relate to one another.

Learn More at www.Colorado-Recovery.com or call (720) 778-2627

Structured & Accountable Care at CMAR

Posted on June 22, 2020 by cmarnew

One of the biggest challenges we face in combating the opioid epidemic…is the fractured state of opioid treatment services.

Getting clean from opioid addiction can be complicated.

To fully recover, one must see a doctor for assessments, a pharmacy for treatment medications, a therapist for counseling, and (hopefully) find friends/mentors for guidance and accountability.

With such a “siloed” system, there are more opportunities to fail than there are to succeed.

All the while, an average of more than 5 Coloradan’s a day die from an overdose, and many wonder, “Why?”

There are myriad and complex reasons why opioids kill so many people despite improvements to treatment, but one reason is clear…

Few opioid addicts can achieve lasting recovery when care is so disparate, and accountability is rarely more than a monthly urinalysis.

Unless people can access structured, comprehensive, and accountable care, their ability to achieve lasting recovery is extremely low.

If a doctor, pharmacy, therapy program, case manager, and peer support were in one place, there wouldn’t be any cracks to slip through.

Well, that’s exactly what Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR) has done…

CMAR offers addiction-medicine, medications, therapy (individual, group, and family), and peer-support all in a single location.

CMAR even offers a full-service, remote treatment option.

Learn More at www.Colorado-Recovery.com or call (720) 778-2627.

Systematic Approach to Opioid Addiction Treatment

Posted on June 20, 2020 by cmarnew

Opioid recovery has evolved, with medications like Suboxone empowering people to stop recreational opioid use while avoiding significant withdrawal…Saving countless lives.

Yet for the majority of people, these medications are provided without additional support…

Unfortunately, that’s just not enough…nearly everyone with opioid dependence also suffers from trauma and/or other mental health conditions, family issues, financial problems, relationship struggles, and so on.

Medications help, but they can’t fix these complex problems. So what helps opioid-dependent people achieve a complete recovery?

From relationships with immediate family and friends, to work associates, each person participates in a huge number of “systems”.

When a person suffers from opioid dependence, it impacts every system they’re a part of and these systems affect them.

To achieve meaningful recovery, we must resolve addictions’ impact on these critical “systems”, and vice-versa.

This begins by simply accepting that recovery demands more than medication.

At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR) we are committed to providing systemic recovery to enable the whole person, and those they love, to recover.

Reach out to CMAR today if you, a loved one, or a patient is in need of opioid recovery.

Join us at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery.

Learn More at www.Colorado-Recovery.com

or call (720) 778-2627

Opioid Epidemic Statistics

Posted on June 10, 2020 by cmarnew

The latest opioid epidemic statistics are staggering. Although knowledge and public awareness of the dangers of opioids continue to grow, so does the epidemic. Pharmaceutical companies, medical professionals, developers, advertisers, retailers, and users continue to fuel the epidemic by producing, marketing, and consuming more opioids each day. As a result, getting treatment at an opioid addiction treatment center is vital.

The opioid plague doesn’t just affect recreational users. A sharp increase in addictions and overdoses has also occurred with patients who take out prescriptions to relieve pain. While there is still much to learn regarding the opioid epidemic, one thing is certain: it does not appear to be going away any time soon. To learn more about opioid addiction treatment, contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today.

Current Opioid Epidemic Statistics

The most recent opioid epidemic statistics come from studies and surveys conducted over the last ten years. Many of these studies are conducted by agencies such as The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), or the National Institute of Health (NIH).

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Numerous universities, government agencies, and independent entities have also conducted studies, tracing the growth of the epidemic back to the late 90s. While the information may vary, all the latest data clearly shows that the epidemic has turned into a national crisis.

Some of the most important statistics include:

Nearly 130 people die each day from opioid side effects or overdose
30 percent of patients who use opioids for pain abuse them
13 percent of users have some form of opioid use disorder
6 percent of users transition into heroin use or addiction
In one year (2016 to 2017) opioid overdoses increased by 30 percent
In 2018 alone, nearly 50,000 people died in the U.S. from opioid overdose

Needless to say, the epidemic has turned into a crisis that demands the attention of the medical community, the pharmaceutical companies, opioid addiction treatment centers, and our highest levels of government.

The Development of the Epidemic: The 1990s to Now

Many question the emergence of opioids and ask how we allowed the epidemic to happen. Others wonder why opioids were allowed to be marketed and sold in the first place.

In the late 1990s pharmaceutical companies began developing opioids as a mainstream product designed to relieve pain (among other conditions). The pharmaceutical companies assured the American public that these new forms of opioids would not be addictive or harmful. Naturally, medical providers and treatment specialists began prescribing opioids.

Consequently, patients began abusing these medications because of the euphoric effect they had on the brain. It wasn’t long before developers started producing recreational versions of the drugs. Opioid overdose rates started to skyrocket and have been climbing ever since.

By 2018, nearly two million Americans suffered from some type of opioid use disorder. Over 500,000 Americans also suffered from heroin addiction. It wasn’t long before addiction treatment centers had to update their programs to accommodate clients who abused these drugs.

Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Thankfully, treatment centers in America have responded, providing a wide range of treatments for opioid addiction. Treatment specialists can now diagnose an addiction, any related mental disorders, and the root of the problem, promoting long-term recovery from the addiction.

Treatment may include:

Outpatient rehab
Aftercare programs
Evidence-based treatment
Holistic care
Individual, group, and family therapy
Dual diagnosis for co-occurring disorders

With the right treatment, clients are now discovering a new life beyond addiction. More importantly, they are discovering that they do not need opioids to deal with many of their problems.

Get Help for Opioid Addiction Today

Regardless of the opioid epidemic statistics, you can overcome your addiction to opioids. To learn more about how to get started with your treatment, contact CMAR at 833.448.0127. We can help you get on the road to recovery.

Press Release: Grand Opening of Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

Posted on May 28, 2020 by cmarnew

Press Release: Grand Opening of Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, Colorado’s First Independent, Outpatient MedicationAssisted Treatment (MAT) Program to Center on Comprehensive Clinical Services

New addiction recovery program comprehensively treats opioid dependence fusing addiction medicine with structured counseling and peer-support to evolve opioid treatment in Colorado by healing the body and the mind.

Denver, Colo., May 28, 2020

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR) today announced the grand opening of its new treatment center on June 1, 2020. CMAR will offer a full wrap-around addiction and mental health treatment program designed specifically for individuals who are addicted to opioids (and other substances). CMAR is the first independent, outpatient Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program in the state of Colorado, that takes a comprehensive and structured clinical approach. MAT is defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) as “the use of FDA-approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.”

Upon opening, CMAR will offer a fully outpatient MAT program coupled with individualized counseling services for individuals suffering from opioid addiction. The program is unique in its client-centered, all-encompassing approach to recovery, whereas other MAT providers either only provide medication-based services (some offer an occasional therapy appointment), or mandate inpatient treatment to receive comprehensive treatment. CMAR’s medical staff, led by board-certified addiction specialist Dr. Nathaniel Moore, will provide clients with medical induction and ongoing medical care and support. CMAR’s clinical staff, led by therapist Michael Damioli (LCSW, CSAT), will provide structured individual, group and family counseling, treating the mental aspects of opioid and other addictions along with co-occurring mental health concerns. Moreover, CMAR provides patients with case management and peer-based services to ensure a complete, supportive and accountable recovery.

“In Colorado, there are currently three ways people have access to Medication-Assisted Treatment to address opioid dependence and addiction,” stated CMAR Clinical Director Michael Damioli. “One can obtain a prescription from a primary care physician, enroll in a publicly funded ‘Opioid Treatment Program’ or OTP, or leave work and home to attend a detox/residential treatment program. Each of these treatment access points has inherent drawbacks for the client. CMAR is designed to offer an alternative to these approaches, by providing an outpatient, yet individualized and comprehensive treatment experience.”

Clients will begin the program with comprehensive assessments followed by an “induction”, onto the medicine Buprenorphine, to relieve the withdrawal symptoms and assist with psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the body. Clients will then commence a safe, controlled, and individualized process to gradually reduce use of Buprenorphine over the course of a one to five year period. CMAR will offer MAT coupled with outpatient therapy, counseling, peer support, case management, and frequent medical check-ins. CMAR will have the ability to serve between 80-100 clients concurrently.

CMAR is located at 8800 Fox Drive in Thornton, Colorado. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit colorado-recovery.com.

About CMAR

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery offers a private, clinically-driven medicated assisted treatment (MAT) program to adults struggling with opioid addiction, with or without additional addictions. The program provides a patient-centered approach to recovery, with an outpatient treatment program designed to fit each patient’s schedules. CMAR’s medical staff, led by a board-certified addictions specialist, provides fully integrated medication-assisted treatment. CMAR’s wraparound services include medical induction and ongoing medical care, structured individual, group and family counseling (treating addiction and any co-occurring mental-health conditions) along with case management. Moreover, CMAR provides patients with peer-based services to ensure a supportive and accountable recovery.