Why Inpatient Treatment Is So Important for Opioid Addiction
The opioid crisis is well-documented, and the sheer number of people who have been affected by it is tragic. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, more than 800,000 people in America died from drug overdoses from 1999 to 2020, and opioids make up an ever-increasing share of those deaths. The problem underscores a clear need for effective help for people who are struggling with opioid use disorder. That’s why understanding the opioid epidemic requires understanding that help is available, and that inpatient treatment for opioid addiction can provide a stable environment to overcome addiction and learn how to cope without opioids in the future. People who are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse have many options for where to get help, including outpatient programs. However, inpatient rehab can be especially beneficial for opioid addiction because of the unique challenges that these highly-addictive drugs can cause.
What Are the 4 A’s of Opioid Therapy?
When doctors prescribe opioid medications for pain, it’s essential that they continue to monitor how to the patient reacts to these drugs to minimize the risk for addiction. The four A’s of opioid therapy help medical professionals document how the patient responds to opioid therapy while watching out for potential adverse reactions. According to a 2012 publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the four A’s are:
- Analgesia: Ensuring adequate pain relief from the medication.
- Activities of Daily Living: Assessing for improvements and increase in the patient’s ability to keep up with daily activities and functions.
- Adverse Effects: Watching for side effects that could indicate inappropriate use or abuse of the opioid.
- Aberrant Drug-Related Behaviors: Monitoring the patient for possible behaviors that could point to substance abuse. This could include frequently requesting refills, trying to get opioids from multiple doctors, or stealing opioids from others.
SAMHSA says clinicians should follow a “universal precautions” approach when prescribing opioids for patients with chronic non-cancer pain, which requires applying a minimum standard of care for all patients — regardless of their perceived risk for developing an opioid abuse problem. This can include coming up with treatment agreements, having regular visits, controlling their supply of medications, and trying to include the patient’s family and friends in efforts to monitor their appropriate usage of these drugs.
What Is the Leading Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder?
You already know by now that inpatient treatment for opioid addiction can provide much-needed support for starting recovery after opioid abuse, but what are other components of treatment? According to Yale Medicine, there are three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid use disorder. Methadone and buprenorphine are both opioids that can be used to block the effects of other opioids and minimize withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Naltrexone isn’t an opioid, but it blocks opioids from binding to brain receptors, so a person won’t feel euphoria if they try to use another opioid. These medications can be continued for years if patients require it.
Because people who are addicted to opioids are both physically and mentally dependent on the drugs, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit, such as nausea, diarreha, anxiety, pains, and sweating. If you’re wondering how long opiate withdrawal lasts, it can go on for several days to weeks, and it’s often unpleasant enough that people will relapse due to strong cravings for opioids. That’s why medical detox like what WhiteSands Treatment provides before beginning inpatient treatment for opioid addiction can be a helpful first step to recovery. During this brief but important phase, patients can receive medicatons and medical support to lessen withdrawal symptoms and be more comfortable as their bodies rid themselves of toxins.
After medical detox, most patients will begin treatment and therapy in an inpatient drug rehab program for 30 to 90 days. During this phase of treatment, they’ll address the mental side of addiction, learning new coping skills and ways of looking at the world that will help them better handle future challenges and resist cravings to relapse. Even after completing rehab, they’ll continue to get support and therapy through WhiteSands’ aftercare program.
How Long Does It Take for a Person to Get Addicted to Opioids?
Unfortunately, many people who end up addicted to opioids started out taking a prescription painkiller but eventually become dependent on the drug and then addicted to it. Because of the dfificulty of obtaining more medicine and the high costs, some people even progress in opioid addiction from prescriptions to heroin or fentanyl, which are illegal but much cheaper. But how, exactly, does someone become addicted to opioids — and how long does it take to become addicted? According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the answer of what causes opioid use disorder simply isn’t known. It’s not clear why some people can take painkillers for a short time and then quit with no problem, with others will become hooked. However, some people will experience euphoria and not just pain relief after they take a prescription opioid, and that can be a warning sign that they’re potentially vulnerable to addiction.
The amount of time it takes for an addiction to develop also isn’t clear, but the evidence says taking opioids regularly will increase the risk. Johns Hopkins Medicine says physical dependency usually takes a couple of weeks, though it varies, and while taking opioids for a couple of days is usually fine for most people, some people can start to be vulnerable for addiction after just the first dose.
How Do People Recover from Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction is a serious disease, and people who are addicted to opioids are at a high risk of suffering an overdose that could be fatal as they continue abusing these drugs. That’s why it’s so important to get help for opioid addiction from professionals who can provide medications, therapy, and support to help you or a loved one overcome addiction and achieve a better future. At WhiteSands Treatment’s inpatient treatment for opioid addiction, we can provide medical detox to safely and more comfortably get through opioid withdrawal before starting therapy, group programming, and holistic treatments that address the underlying causes and factors behind addiction. By the time patients leave our residential facility, they’ll be stable and strong as they start their new lives of recovery. Overcoming opioid addiction is possible, but it requires professional help.
Get Help from WhiteSands’ Inpatient Treatment for Opioid Addiction
The way that opioids interact with our brains, flooding us with euphoric feelings and quickly leading to physical and mental dependence, means that these drugs can be very addictive. However, inpatient treatment for opioid addiction can help people get through opioid withdrawal and then learn the coping skills and inner strength they’ll need to live a life of recovery. The opioid epidemic’s rising death count represents a tragedy, but it is one that is preventable, and help is available. Learn more about how WhiteSands Treatment can help you or a loved one by calling 877-855-3470 today.
External Sources
- National Library of Medicine — Managing Addiction Risk in Patients Treated with Opioids
- Yale Medicine — Opioid Use Disorder
- Johns Hopkins Medicine — Opioid Use Disorder
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.