Opioid Addiction Treatment
Medically Reviewed By: Kimberly Langdon, M.D.
As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage families across America, Ohio is among the states that have been hit particularly hard. Ohio Recovery Center offers comprehensive opioid use disorder treatment to help you or your loved one achieve lasting recovery.
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious mental health condition defined by an inability to stop taking opioid drugs, despite negative health effects and other consequences.
One of the most serious risks associated with the condition in recent years is that of overdose, as more powerful opioids like fentanyl are becoming commonplace. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ohio ranks seventh of all U.S. states for the most opioid overdose deaths.
At ORC, we can help you stop using opioids safely, which isn’t always possible to do on your own. We also treat the underlying causes of your condition so that you can achieve lasting recovery.
All of our inpatient treatment services are provided on our beautiful 55-acre campus, where you can connect with nature for rest and relaxation but also engage in fun activities like hiking, sand volleyball, yoga, cookouts, and more.
ORC’s Inpatient Opioid Treatment Program
Even though many people are experiencing opioid addiction today, each person’s needs differ during treatment.
This is why we provide a client-centered approach, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach, with many evidence-based and holistic treatment options available.
Our residential program ensures that you have access to medical and clinical professionals 24/7.
Medical Detox
Opioid addiction treatment programs often begin with detoxification, where around-the-clock medical supervision and care is provided during withdrawal.
ORC’s withdrawal management team can treat the anxiety, abdominal pain, and flu-like symptoms that typically accompany opioid withdrawal, making the process safe and much more comfortable.
However, detox alone is not considered a complete approach to treatment.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
One proven-effective treatment for opioid use disorder that your treatment plan at Ohio Recovery Center may include is medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
MAT combines the use of medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with therapy for a comprehensive treatment approach that can reduce cravings and support lasting recovery.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is an integral part of all our programs at ORC, whether or not your treatment plan includes MAT services.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family psychoeducation therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), group therapy, and other effective therapy options are available.
Group therapy topics focus on addiction education, coping skills development, relapse prevention, and other topics of interest to participants.
Other Treatment Services
Peer support groups, case management services, wellness activities, and social opportunities round out the treatment and support options offered at ORC.
Although your schedule will be highly structured during your stay with us, you will also have plenty of free time.
As you near the end of your program, you and your care team will work with ORC’s aftercare coordinator to make sure that you are connected to ongoing support after program completion.
To find out if our residential opioid treatment program is a good fit for you or a loved one, please contact us today.
Learn More About Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction is a mental health disorder defined by an inability to stop taking opioids despite negative effects. It may involve physical dependence, indicated by withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop opioid use.
Hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, and fentanyl are some examples of prescription opioids, but heroin and morphine are also included in the class of opioid drugs.
In 2021, 6 million people ages 12 and older met the criteria for OUD during that year, the most recent year with data available.
While the ongoing opioid epidemic continues to affect millions of Americans, evidence-based treatment can help people find lasting recovery.
Effects Of Opioid Addiction
In the long-term, OUD can lead to negative health effects that vary widely and involve many different systems of the body.
These health risks include:
- weakened immune system
- weakened bone structure
- clinical depression or other mental health issues
- cardiovascular failure
- sleep apnea
- erratic breathing
- bowel obstruction and other serious gastrointestinal issues
Taking opioids can also cause short-term side effects, such as drowsiness, constipation, and impairment. You may experience these side effects every time you take opioids.
Learn more about the side effects of opioid use.
Opioid Overdose
Opioid addiction can be a risk factor for opioid overdose, as higher doses of opioids may be taken on a regular basis to obtain the same initial effects.
Opioid overdose can be life-threatening without proper treatment, as it can cause hypotension, slowed heart rate, and slowed or stopped breathing.
Naloxone can reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose by binding to the same receptors as opioid drugs. Naloxone is safe and easy to use, but training is recommended.
If you are living with an OUD, the best way to prevent an overdose is to seek addiction treatment.
Learn more about opioid overdose.
Signs Of Opioid Addiction
Addiction can cause a person to prioritize drug use over every other aspect of their daily life. Over time, it can become difficult for a person to hide a drug addiction.
Signs of an opioid addiction in a loved one may include:
- prioritizing opioid use over important activities, such as working or attending school
- a need for increased opioid dosage
- changes in social circles
- declining physical and mental health
- presence of drug paraphernalia
- displaying opioid withdrawal symptoms
Risk Factors For Opioid Addiction
Some demographics may be at a higher risk of opioid use disorders than others. An opioid dosage that may be safe for one person can be habit-forming for another.
People with a history of substance abuse may be more likely to develop an addiction to opioids. People with preexisting mental health issues, such as depression or a history of trauma, may also seek the analgesic effects of opioid medications.
It’s important to share your complete medical history with your doctor before beginning use of opioid drugs.
Opioid Addiction FAQs
Read some of the most frequently asked questions about opioid addiction below.
What Are Some Of The Strongest Opioids?
Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. This powerful synthetic opioid is involved in most drug overdose deaths in the U.S. today.
Used to sedate elephants and other large animals, carfentanil is 10,000 times stronger than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl and not intended for human use.
See a list of opioid drugs.
How Long Do Opioids Stay In Your System?
How long opioids stay in your system depends on a number of factors including the half-life of the specific drug, your body weight, your age, and your overall health.
What Do Prescription Opioids Look Like?
Prescription opioids come in a wide variety of forms including pills, syrups, injections, suppositories, nasal sprays, and lozenges.
Learn more about what prescription opioids look like.
What Do Opioids Feel Like?
Opioids, whether illicit or prescribed, can create side effects such as euphoric feelings, a lowering of inhibitions, and sedation. Opioids generally cause extreme relaxation and can lead to life-threatening health concerns when misused.
Learn more about what opioids feel like.
Are Opioids Narcotics?
According to the CDC, narcotics originally referred to substances that numbed pain or otherwise dulled the senses. Over time, people began to refer to illegal drugs as narcotics.
To avoid confusion, “opioid” is the preferred term for pain-relieving drugs today.
Learn more about opioids as narcotics.
Find Treatment For Opioid Addiction At Ohio Recovery Center
If you or a loved one are suffering from opioid addiction, contact us today to find the right treatment plan for you.
- Anesthesia and Analgesia - Risk Factors for Opioid-Use Disorder and Overdose https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/fulltext/2017/11000/risk_factors_for_opioid_use_disorder_and_overdose.41.aspx
- National Institute on Drug Abuse - Opioids https://nida.nih.gov/drug-topics/opioids
- National Library of Medicine: StatPearls - Opioid Addiction https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448203/
- The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders - Review of Potential Adverse Effects of Long-Term Opioid Therapy: A Practitioner's Guide https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3466038/
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - Treatment and Prevention Strategies to Reduce Opioid Misuse https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/treatment-prevention-strategies-reduce-opioid-misuse
- National Center for Health Statistics — Drug Overdose Mortality by State https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/drug_poisoning_mortality/drug_poisoning.htm
Medically Reviewed By: Kimberly Langdon, M.D.
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