Finding treatment for opiate addiction can be the best first step a person takes towards regaining control of his or her life. Opiate addictions in particular require specialized treatment care that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction. Treatment for opiate addiction should be based on the circumstances

surrounding a person’s addiction as well as any past history of drug use. Both short-term and long-term treatment for opiate addiction can be of benefit depending on the needs of the individual.

Treatment Goals

Though getting off and staying off opiates are the overall goals of drug rehab, goals for treatment for opiate addiction should be tailor-made to best address the issues any one person faces. Addictions function as chronic, relapsing brain diseases that directly impair cell functions and chemical processes at a physiological level, according to the Journal of Clinical Investigation. As cell structures and chemical processes change so does a person’s overall perceptions and behaviors. Other factors, such as stress level, environment, mindset and social setting also contribute to how opiates impact brain function.

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As everyone’s bio-chemical make-up is different, goals for treatment for opiate addiction should correspond with a person’s individual treatment needs. Treatment for opiate addiction can take on a wide range of different approaches and methods. That being so, a few standard treatment goals still apply for everyone. Addressing both the physical and psychological components of addiction are the primary goals for most all effective treatment programs.

Detox Treatment

Treatment for opiate addiction starts with the detoxification stage where opiate use stops and the body starts the process of flushing all drug substances out of the system. Finding treatment for opiate addiction at this stage is critical to continuing on in the recovery process. At this stage of care, most treatment programs provide some form of medication therapy to help recovering addicts better cope with withdrawal effects and ongoing drug cravings. Due to the long-term effects of opiate abuse, many people require ongoing medication therapy to maintain abstinence long after they stop using.

As opiate effects alter a person’s thoughts and behaviors, it’s equally important to treat the psychological component of addiction or else a person will soon find him or herself entering a relapse episode. This type of treatment for opiate addiction entails psychotherapy, support group meetings and education on how drugs and addiction work.

Residential vs. Outpatient Treatment Options

When comparing residential versus outpatient treatment for opiate addiction, a person’s individual circumstances will most likely work best with one or the other. Someone who’s still employed or has family obligations to tend to may be better off receiving outpatient treatment care. Outpatient treatment allows participants to schedule treatment times around their existing schedules.

Inpatient treatment for opiate addiction requires participants to live at the facility where round the clock treatment can be provided. Someone suffering from a long-term opiate addiction should seriously consider inpatient care; even in cases where job and/or family obligations are an issue.

Ultimately, it’s more important to get the level of treatment a person needs than trying to make “treatment” fit inside a lifestyle that’s already at risk.