Addictions we Treat

OPIOIDS TREATMENT

At Achieve Whole Recovery, we offer opioids treatment in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Westminster for those struggling with opioid dependence. Opioids, also known as Oxy, Percs, and Vikes, are a group of drugs that can be found in the opium poppy plant or made by scientists in a lab using the same chemical structure. Opioids contain chemicals that can relax the body and produce a feeling of relaxation or euphoria, which can make them addictive and dangerous. These drugs are often used as prescription medications to relieve moderate to severe pain, coughing, and diarrhea, but their addictive nature makes opioids recovery an essential process for many. This is why Achieve Whole Recovery offers comprehensive opioids treatment in Colorado Springs, addressing the complexity of opioid addiction. People misuse prescription opioids by taking them in ways or doses other than prescribed, taking someone else’s prescription, or using the medicine to get high. Heroin, an opioid that is never used as a medicine in the United States, exemplifies the risks associated with opioid misuse.

Opioids work by binding to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body, which blocks pain signals and releases large amounts of dopamine, causing a feeling of pleasure and reinforcing the use of the drug. While opioids can provide short-term relief of pain and make a person feel relaxed and happy, they can also have harmful effects on the body, including drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, euphoria, and slowed breathing. Long-term use of prescription opioids, even when taken as prescribed by a doctor, can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction. Dependency can occur with repeated use and lead to physiological reactions when the drug is absent. This is where opioids treatment becomes crucial, and the opioids recovery process at Achieve Whole Recovery is designed to manage these effects. Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences and long-lasting changes in the brain. Misuse of opioids can lead to dangerous health effects, including hypoxia and the risk of contracting infectious diseases, particularly when sharing drug injection equipment. Pregnant women who use prescription opioids are at risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome and low birth weight. Opioids treatment with methadone or buprenorphine, combined with prenatal care and a comprehensive drug treatment program, can improve outcomes for opioid-dependent pregnant women and their babies.

Prescription opioids can cause an overdose if someone takes enough of the drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death. An opioid overdose can lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, which can result in coma, permanent brain damage, or death. If someone suspects that someone has overdosed on opioids, they should call 911 immediately so that the person can receive medical attention and opioids treatment. Medical personnel will administer naloxone, which is a medication that can help with opioid overdose recovery. Naloxone works by rapidly binding to opioid receptors and blocking the effects of opioid drugs. It is available as an injectable solution, a hand-held auto-injector, and a nasal spray. In some states, naloxone can be dispensed by pharmacists without a personal prescription, which allows friends, family, and members of the community to use it to save someone who is overdosing.

Various treatments, such as medicines and behavioral therapies, are effective in helping people quit using prescription opioids. To provide the best possible opioid treatment, it’s important to match the appropriate treatment approach to each patient’s individual needs. Medicines such as lofexidine, buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are helpful in reducing withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and preventing opioid drugs from having an effect. Behavioral therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy and contingency management are also effective in modifying drug-use expectations, behaviors, and managing triggers and stress. These approaches can be even more effective for opioids recovery when combined with medications.

Achieve Whole Recovery Offers Excellence In The Areas Of Psychiatry And Addiction Medicine

Walk-in appointments for addiction medicine and psychiatry are welcome!

AWR Exemplifies Excellence in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.

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