There are many facets of addiction treatment that warrant explanation. After all, the entire treatment process is unknown to a lot of people. With that said, we want to address something that one might consider confusing. That is the use of drugs to combat drug addiction. That’s correct. Sometimes, doctors and medical staff have to use prescription medications to help people get through detox and treatment. We call this medication-assisted treatment. Let us explain further.
More About Medication-Assisted Treatment
Detox is a vital part of the overall addiction treatment process. Patients need this time to get through their withdrawal symptoms before they can realistically address therapy. Sometimes, the detox process does not go as smoothly as the patient and doctor would like. This is often true when the patient has a deep-rooted addiction to substances like alcohol or heroin.
Because of this, almost all detox programs in Jacksonville FL reserve the option to prescribe drugs when patients require them. For the most part, we, at Beaches Recovery prefer patients to go through the detox process as naturally as possible. However, there could come the point in time when the patient experiences significant pain or sleeping issues. When they do, we must keep them safe and comfortable. The primary option at our disposal is a medication-assisted treatment program.
We cannot stress enough that patients should only get medication when necessary. Why? The truth is the use of drugs during treatment could become a problem unto itself. We have to carefully monitor each patient’s progress to make sure we make the right treatment decisions. If doctors use a medication-assisted treatment program responsibly, the program can be very effective.
How We Use Medication During the Detox Process
Withdrawal symptoms can be very harsh. In some cases, they present a clear danger to the patient. When someone is ready to get help, it is the responsibility of the addiction treatment community to help them. That includes keeping them safe and secure during all steps in the treatment process.
As the body tries to diminish its cravings, many physical issues can arise. For instance, the addict might experience:
- Stomach and muscle cramping
- Digestive issues
- Depression
- Convulsions and tremors
- Breathing and heart problems
Under our care, we want to make sure our patients have minimal issues with these kinds of symptoms. That’s why we might implement a medication-assisted treatment program. In some cases, patients need extra time to get past withdrawal slowly. Under these circumstances, tapering medications could become relevant. These drugs allow patients to “slowly” break the cycle of addiction. Tapering drugs are indeed a vital tool in any medication-assisted treatment program.
Beaches Recovery – General Information
At Beaches Recovery, we do more than treat addictions. We work hard to make a difference in the lives of each patient that enters our facility. Our goal is to treat patients from detox all the way through our aftercare and relapse prevention programs. We have received our accreditation from the Joint Commission, which represents the most excellent rehab facilities in the country. We offer specific treatment programs for men and women with the appropriate inpatient accommodations. As part of treatment, we place each patient with a licensed counselor, whose task it is to develop a custom treatment plan for each patient. These programs could include the following treatment options:
- Inpatient treatment – primary and extended care (over 90 days)
- Outpatient care
- Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring conditions
- Family counseling services
- Partial hospitalization program
While your addiction has undoubtedly thrust you into a world of disarray, it doesn’t have to be a permanent situation. In fact, you can choose to fight your addiction. It will require commitment and focus, but we have great faith you can succeed. With that said, you must take that all-important first step. That means you must be willing to admit you have an illness and want help. When you are ready to do that, the staff at Beaches Recovery will be here to provide that help. If you are looking for medication-assisted treatment and counseling, please call us at 866.605.0532.
