addiction treatment center Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

How Naltrexone Is Used to Treat Opiate Addiction

Posted on April 10, 2021 by cmarnew

The way that opioids interact with the brain makes opiate addiction difficult to overcome. It used to be that the main approach to helping people with opioid addiction was to have them go through withdrawal before receiving therapy and other forms of treatment. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) takes a different approach. Clients receive medication that alleviates withdrawal symptoms associated with opioids and other substances. Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery uses naltrexone as part of the MAT treatment offered at our facility.

What Is Naltrexone?

Naltrexone is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug cleared for treating individuals with an opioid or alcohol addiction as part of MAT. It’s available in both a pill and injectable form and can be prescribed by those licensed to give out prescriptions to clients. Unlike other medications often provided through MAT, naltrexone is not an opioid.

Because it’s not an opioid, there’s a much lower risk of clients developing an addiction to naltrexone. You also don’t experience side effects if you decide to discontinue its use. Naltrexone itself can’t help a client overcome an addiction. It’s often used in conjunction with other elements of a client’s treatment plan like dialectical-behavior therapy and dialectal behavior therapy.

How Can Naltrexone Help with Addiction?

People turn to drugs and alcohol because of the feeling of euphoria or relaxation they produce. Opioids specifically bind with opioid receptors in the brain responsible for producing feelings of pleasure. Once your brain starts associating your opioid use with those emotions, you end up with a dependency that can eventually turn into an addiction. Alcohol can have a similar effect on various parts of your nervous system.

Naltrexone blocks the effects produced by drugs and alcohol by keeping the substances from binding with your opioid receptors. That means you don’t experience the highs from opioids or sedated feelings that come with drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Naltrexone also reduces cravings and helps with opiate withdrawal, which can help you get through a treatment program and achieve recovery.

Your system must be completely clear of any toxins associated with drug or alcohol abuse before you start taking naltrexone. Clients should steer clear of using other illegal drugs or drinking while receiving the drug as part of MAT.

What Are the Side Effects of Taking Naltrexone?

Some clients do experience certain side effects from naltrexone treatment, including:

Diarrhea
Nervousness
Headaches
Vomiting
Stomach troubles
Muscle pain
Sleep issues
Fatigue

Make sure you inform your doctor about any adverse effects of naltrexone treatment. They can adjust your dosage or change you to a different medication. You should only take naltrexone as part of MAT and alongside other programs that provide you with the psychological and social support necessary to overcome your substance use disorder.

Naltrexone treatment can reduce your tolerance for opioids or other substances. Discontinuing your use of naltrexone can leave you more vulnerable to a potential overdose because you overestimate what your system can handle.

Receive Medication-Assisted Treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

While naltrexone treatment can make it easier for you to get through a recovery program, it’s not a cure-all for addiction. You must still put in the effort needed to face the underlying issues driving your addiction. Our team of specialists sticks with you every step of the way as you learn to live a life free of substance abuse.

Other programs and services available at our recovery center include:

It’s not too late to change the direction of your life. Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery gives clients the chance to overcome addiction and restore their health. Start your new journey today by calling us at 833.448.0127.

The Necessity of Peer Recovery to Successful Addiction Recovery

Posted on March 29, 2021 by cmarnew

Long term recovery isn’t something we can achieve by ourselves. In fact, major addiction treatment studies have found a causal link between peer accountability and long-term recovery. Yet most people recovering from addiction (especially opioid-addiction), don’t have access to a peer group that can help them stay the course and remain clean through trying times. Literally 90% of addiction treatment clinics, addiction psychiatry and medicine practices fail to provide even a sing peer-support group. Since these programs and providers are driven to treat from more of a public health perspective, where the singular goal is to reduce harm and increase a single quality of life measure, survival! At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we offer an evidence-based alternative, which empowers each of our patients to truly recover. Not to simply “survive” but to fully thrive!

Peer support generates community between those who share the common bond of being in recovery from chemical dependence, which in turn facilitates the development of meaningful, accountable long-term connection.

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

How Suboxone Is Used to Treat Opioid Addiction

Posted on March 20, 2021 by cmarnew

When it comes to addiction, there are many things that a person can become addicted to. From drugs or alcohol to gambling or food, the need for help in treating addiction is real. Even when a person doesn’t abuse drugs intentionally to get high, dependence on a drug to control pain, for example, can lead to addiction. Suboxone can be used in addiction treatment programs to help individuals who are struggling with substance abuse find relief from withdrawal symptoms as they work through the underlying causes of addiction.

What Is Opioid Addiction?

After using opioids to control pain, such as after surgery or for an extended period, it is possible to become dependent on them. Eventually, a person can become addicted to the feeling of relief that opioids bring. Others who are seeking to get high turn to opioids and can eventually become addicted as well. Opioids contribute to over half of all deaths caused by drug overdoses in the United States, so the problem is severe and has become an epidemic.

Common opioids include:

Morphine
Codeine
Oxycodone
Hydrocodone
Oxycontin
Vicodin
Percocet

How Is It Treated?

Treating opioid addiction involves several factors. Counseling is often used to help the client cope with the emotions surrounding their pain and learn new strategies, but this alone is not enough. Most of the time, mediated opioid addiction treatment is necessary. Using an opioid replacement therapy strategy, professionals help clients overcome their dependence on the drugs by reducing the withdrawal symptoms that often make it impossible to quit in the first place.

The steps a client typically undergoes, which can occur independently of each other or as a combined process, involve:

Detoxification
Therapy
Medicated treatment
Utilizing ongoing coping strategies

To be the most effective, rehabilitation is encouraged for a period of greater than 90 days. This helps reduce the risk of relapse.

Medicated-Assisted Treatment

During the medicated treatment period, clients are given medicine to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. These medications help without the added adverse effects brought on by opioids. Some drugs also help with cravings experienced during detox. This type of treatment cannot occur without consulting a professional, so it is imperative to seek help. Medications such as Suboxone can reduce the duration and severity of withdrawal symptoms.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is one medication that can be used in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is made up of buprenorphine and naloxone, which work together to decrease the severity of withdrawal symptoms and reduce an individual’s dependence on opioids. It can block the effects of opioids and make an individual in recovery less likely to relapse. It can also help manage chronic pain, which is one reason why some individuals abuse opioids. Suboxone treatment is always complemented by therapy and counseling.

How Does Suboxone Help with Opioid Addiction Treatment?

Suboxone lowers the effects of opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It has a lower potential for abuse than methadone, which is another commonly used medication in opioid treatment programs. Some of the most common opioid withdrawal symptoms that Suboxone can help relieve include:

Stomach cramping
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Frequent chills
Muscle tension
Sleep-related issues
Disruptive aches and pains
Heart palpitations
Intense cravings

Suboxone can be incredibly effective in helping those with opioid addictions maintain recovery long-term.

Opioid Addiction Treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

Getting treatment for opioid addiction is possible at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery. Here, clients can benefit from therapists who vary their treatment approach based on both proven techniques and medical intervention. Understanding the different ways to treat opioid addiction and how medication can help manage withdrawal symptoms means that we can provide a complete recovery to clients. Visit our website or contact us at 833.448.0127 for more information.

Press Release: Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery’s Clinical Director Interviewed for Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly

Posted on March 8, 2021 by cmarnew

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery’s Clinical Director Interviewed for Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly

Denver, CO: In a recent article in Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, Michael Damioli, the clinical director of Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, offers his perspective on the future of telehealth in the field of addiction treatment.

Medications that can treat opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine, were once only available through in-person inpatient or outpatient treatment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has propelled addiction treatment centers such as Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery to open up telehealth treatment options. In Damioli’s view, this will pave the way for more comprehensive telehealth treatment options in the future.

“The telehealth door has been opened,” Damioli notes. While remote treatment for substance use disorder may have been prompted by the pandemic, telehealth is seen as an option that will only continue to grow in years to come. Even as treatment centers begin to return to in-person sessions, telehealth can help those addicted to opioids continue medication-assisted treatment long-term.

About Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery: Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery is Colorado’s only licensed outpatient addiction treatment center that offers integrated medical, clinical, and pharmaceutical services. To learn more, reach out to their treatment center at 855.454.4003 today.

7 Tips To Make The Most Out Of Rehab

Posted on October 5, 2020 by cmarnew

If you are struggling with drug addiction, attending a drug rehab center is a huge step towards recovery. However, if it is your first time being in rehab, it can be a difficult decision because you don’t know what to expect. If you are going back to drug rehab after a relapse, it will help you work with your therapist to learn how to respond differently to the causes of relapsing. Whether you are going to drug rehab for the first time or after a relapse, you need to have the right mindset to make the most of your time in rehab. To help you get the most out of an addiction treatment program in Colorado, contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery at 833.448.0127 today.

Tips To Get the Most Out of Rehab

Here are some of the residential facility tips to help you make the most out of rehab:

1. Participate in Group Sessions

A group therapy program allows you to grow. It will help you benefit from shared experiences and thoughts of others. Contributing to the group can also help support others with your insights and experiences. In whatever you share, please make sure you do so with sheer honesty.

2. Trust Your Therapist

The personal relationship that you build with your therapist will significantly contribute to your recovery. If you trust your therapist, you will feel comfortable to share meaningful experiences and thoughts that may be of concern. On the other hand, if you don’t trust him/her, you will be tempted to withhold important information, impeding your recovery progress. An individual therapy program is a safe haven to discuss and address anything that is on your mind.

3. Don’t Expect Things to Change Overnight

Drug addiction treatment is a lifelong process, and change does not happen right away. Try not to have unrealistic expectations about drug rehab or even how your life will be after the treatment. It is essential to understand that drug rehab in itself is not a cure for addiction, and maintaining your sobriety after treatment will require commitment and patience. While undergoing the treatment, focus on the process and allow yourself to transform at your own pace.

4. Keep an Open Mind

An open mind will help you be open and receptive to your therapist, peers, and addiction treatment staff’s suggestions. Even though the ideas may at first sound unfamiliar, an open mind may help you identify with the new ideas and ultimately allow you to make significant strides in creating a healthy lifestyle free from drug abuse and addiction.

5. Connect with Others

Peer support is one of the cornerstone rehab tips in a strong recovery. Developing a healthy relationship with your peers gives you a sense of belonging, enhances your ability to communicate, offers a platform for accountability, and allows you to have fun. Ultimately, it distracts you from craving drug abuse.

6. Focus On The Moment

Practicing mindfulness will help you develop gratitude for what is present. It prevents you from living in past regrets and mistakes or being anxious about the future. Mindfulness will help you stay grounded in the present, and you will be able to manage cravings and consequently avoid relapse.

7. Identify Your Triggers and Learn How to Manage Them

There will be cues that will trigger the urge to use the substance(s). The triggers vary from one person to another. Therefore, take your time to identify your triggers and create an actionable plan to help you manage them.

What Should I Expect in a Rehab?

Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is not a linear process. It involves several different things supporting each other. Learning various residential facility tips gives you a better chance to succeed even after your addiction treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery. Some of the outpatient treatment therapies that we offer include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
Family therapy
Group therapy
Individual therapy

Learn more about rehab and begin the path towards a new life free of drugs and alcohol. Contact Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery today at 833.448.0127 to schedule an appointment.

Signs of Addiction

Posted on August 1, 2020 by cmarnew

Addiction is a chronic disease that causes physical and psychological dependence on a drug. A person may lack control over their behavior despite the risks associated with drug use. Identifying the signs of addiction can help one seek treatment for problematic drug use. This step may also help one learn how to avoid using drugs after completing treatment at CMAR. If you are wondering if you’re showing the signs of addiction, contact our Colorado addiction treatment center at 833.448.0127 today.

Physical and Psychological Signs of Addiction

A drug addict may show physical symptoms of addiction when they overdose or withdraw substance use. However, some physical signs may be difficult to identify, particularly if they use drugs in isolation. Some of the most common physical signs of drug addiction are changes in weight and dilated or enlarged pupils. A user may also neglect personal hygiene measures such as combing hair and bathing.

Drug addiction can influence one to use a significant amount of a substance, leading to an overdose. Depending on the drug used, one may show signs of an overdose, such as hallucinations, trouble walking, and agitation. Prolonged drug usage can also cause alterations in the structure of the brain. Hence, a person will show psychological symptoms of addiction, like anxiousness and mood swings. Moreover, one can experience personality changes and lack the motivation to engage in various activities. If you are showing signs of addiction, contact CMAR to learn more about our addiction treatment therapies.

Behavioral and Social Signs of Drug Addiction

Behavioral signs of addiction refer to the pattern of conduct that a person shows after prolonged drug use. These symptoms are mainly an indicator of the side effects of the drug they are using. For instance, a user may think about using and obtaining a drug obsessively. The drugs become a priority in their life, in that they neglect other obligations. As such, a person may choose to buy drugs over meeting basic needs, like housing. One can also lose control over their usage even when they want to reduce usage or quit drugs.

Addiction can affect a person’s ability to reason, making them engage in irrational behavior. Such behaviors may include starting unnecessary arguments, which may lead to fights. Drug abuse can also influence how a person interacts and socializes with other people. For example, prolonged drug use will affect a user’s health and make it hard for them to participate in sporting activities. Hence, one will come up with excuses to avoid exercising and engaging in sports. One may also seclude themselves to prevent other people from noticing that they use drugs.

Treating Drug Addiction

Seeking addiction treatment can help a person in the recovery process. Most addiction treatment centers have various programs one can join, depending on the nature of addiction. Moreover, other factors, such as multiple substance use and mental health conditions, determine the program one joins at a mental health treatment center. It is recommendable for people with chronic addiction to join a medication-assisted treatment program. This type of plan allows one to receive medication that will help minimize withdrawal effects. A person can also enroll in a nearby outpatient treatment center. Such establishments offer programs that will allow them to carry out other activities, such as working while receiving treatment.

Therapy and counseling are also a crucial component of addiction recovery. This step helps one learn more about the effects of their drug usage. Moreover, the specialists will educate you or a loved one on how to avoid the triggers of drug abuse. Some of the therapies used in treating addiction are:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
Family therapy
Group therapy
Individual therapy

Recovering From Addiction at CMAR

Showing signs of addiction is an indicator that a person needs professional help. At CMAR, we can help you recover from addiction to opioids such as heroin. We test our patients’ mental condition to treat co-occurring conditions. This measure helps to ensure that you have a better and life-long recovery. Call CMAR today at 833.448.0127 to enroll for an effective addiction treatment program.