Opiate dependency is a national crisis. Opioids include drugs like heroin, morphine, methadone, oxycodone and fentanyl. Narcotic painkillers cause accidental overdose at such a rate that they are credited with lowering the average life expectancy in the US.
Whether your opiate use began with a legally prescribed pain medication or from experimenting with a street drug such as heroin, once opiate use begins it becomes necessary to use increasingly higher doses in order to get the same effect as the first use. This makes it very easy to become addicted to opiates, no matter what situation caused you to use an opiate the first time. Once addicted, you need regular, increasingly higher doses to function normally and avoid withdrawal.
It’s very easy to miscalculate how strong the dose you’re using is, especially since street drugs are now being cut with synthetic opioids like Carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer which is cheap, easy to produce, and 10,000 times more powerful than morphine, making it deadly to humans in minute amounts. Because of this and other factors, we have tens of thousands of people nationwide dying from opioid overdoses each year, with the number of deaths continuing to climb at an alarming rate.
Medically monitored withdrawal is the first step on a path to recovery from opiates. Because withdrawal is painful and could even be deadly, a medically supervised withdrawal is the only safe choice. Our addiction professionals will meet with you and your family prior to intake to assess your individual needs and explore the options available to help you withdraw safely and recover permanently from opioid use disorder.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Because opioid use disorder (OUD) can actually change your body chemistry over time, you may need to transition to another medication to manage your recovery and avoid relapse. Those recovering from opioid use disorder who have achieved abstinence through medically supervised opioid withdrawal or other means will benefit from long-term treatment to prevent relapse. Long-term treatment should include psychotherapy and can include supportive medications (ie buprenorphine).
Numerous studies have shown MAT to be the best, most reliable method for achieving sustained recovery from opioid dependency. MAT combines medication and psychosocial treatment which is tailored to address each patient’s unique and complex physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing and provide concrete help.
We use a variety of evidence based interventions to improve the opiate detox experience.
Addiction only gets worse as time goes by. That’s why you should contact us now if you suspect that you or a loved one has a problem. Savers Addiction Medical Group is a leading provider of prevention, education, and outpatient treatment services for alcoholism, addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders. We can help you or a loved one recover and help your family heal, right now.
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Is addiction preventing you or a loved one to live a happy life? Take action by giving us a call at 714-760-4043or by filling out this anonymous form.
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What FDA-Approved Medications are Most Effectively Used for MAT?
Suboxone
Suboxone combines buprenorphine with naloxone to provide a very effective opioid maintenance medication. Buprenorphine is a partial-agonist which binds to the mu-receptors in the brain and blocks full-agonist opioids like heroin and oxycodone. While it does have some euphoric effect, the euphoric effect is milder than other opiates and it reaches a ceiling and does not increase with a stronger dosage.
Naloxone is a full agonist which prevents opioids from attaching to the mu-receptors and expels opioid drugs which are already attached. Naloxone is widely used to reverse opioid overdoses. Because it has a lower potential for abuse Suboxone can be prescribed by a qualified physician, which makes it more accessible for many patients. It is dispensed in a sublingual film which can be placed in the cheek or under the tongue. You must undergo partial withdrawal from your opiate drug before beginning Suboxone maintenance.
Sublocade
Sublocade is the most recent FDA-approved medication to combat opiate addiction. It dispenses buprenorphine via a monthly time-released injection. Patients on Sublocade must be stabilized in recovery and not subject to also taking other substances along with their monthly injection as this could cause serious health risks. However, a monthly injection at the doctor’s office allows the patient freedom to focus on recovery without thinking about maintenance medication for a whole month. This convenient option may make MAT more accessible for some people. You must undergo partial withdrawal from your opiate drug before beginning Sublocade maintenance.
Vivitrol
Vivitrol is the brand name of a monthly intramuscular injection of naltrexone, a full opioid antagonist which blocks opioids from binding to the mu receptors. It is also used for alcohol addiction. It may be a good option for patients who want to be completely free of any opiate maintenance medications. However, if you relapse while on Vivitrol it could cause serious health problems, including overdose from a relatively small dose of an opiate drug. Patients should be highly motivated to remain completely substance-free to begin Vivitrol treatment. Unlike partial agonist opiate maintenance drugs it can be dispensed by any physician who is qualified to prescribe medication. You must be entirely opiate free to begin taking Vivitrol. This means that you must undergo a complete withdrawal from the opiate drug before beginning Vivitrol treatment.
Our primary physician, Dr. Samer Moghaddam (“Dr. Sam”) is fully accredited to prescribe/dispense FDA approved MAT medications.
What Psychosocial Help Does Savers Opiate Detox Provide?
Our detox center is fully staffed with Opiate Treatment Specialists. Prior to intake you’ll undergo a physical examination, along with a psychosocial screening to assess your unique situation and what type of treatment plan would be most helpful to address all your needs. We will talk to you about treatment options. Together we can come up with a plan of action which may include partial withdrawal and transitioning to a maintenance medication such as Suboxone, or full withdrawal and Vivitrol maintenance.
Once you’re stabilized we highly recommend continuing on to Savers Addiction Inpatient Treatment, followed by Savers Addiction Intensive Outpatient Treatment. This will allow us to monitor your physical, mental and emotional health, continue in our mission of helping you recover and make any necessary adjustments. We have social workers and addiction therapists on staff to help you heal in body, mind and spirit, go on to set new goals and achieve a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle of recovery and healing. By continuing in treatment you’ll be giving yourself the strongest foundation possible to successfully maintain a new, healthy life free of opioid addiction.
Is addiction preventing you or a loved one to live a happy life? Take action by giving us a call at 714-760-4043or by filling out this anonymous form.
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MAT Gives Opiate Addicted Individuals the Best Chance to Recover and Go Forward with Healthy Lives
The opioid epidemic is growing steadily nationwide and along with growing numbers of people suffering from OUD, opioid overdoses are claiming more lives every day. We have a national emergency. Because of this, government health officials are working hard to ensure that MAT services are widely accessible in all regions.
Savers Addiction Medical Group is Here to Help
Our caring practice is in the heart of Orange County, California. We have created a state-of-the-art environment dedicated to addressing opiate use disorder. Contact us today at 714-760-4043 to speak with one of our caring intake counselors. We are happy to give a confidential assessment of your situation and discuss what options you have for pursuing treatment.
902 N Grand Ave Ste 201
