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Opioid Addiction Treatment in Dallas, TX

When seeking effective opioid treatment drugs in Dallas, it’s essential to choose a healthcare provider that specializes in addiction recovery and understands the complexity of opioid dependence. Dallas offers a range of medically supervised treatment options, including FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, designed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. These treatment drugs, combined with personalized therapy and support groups, provide a comprehensive approach to opioid addiction recovery. Dallas’s leading addiction treatment centers are committed to offering compassionate care and innovative therapies to help individuals reclaim their lives from opioid dependence.

Opioid Addiction Facts

  • In 2012, 259 million prescriptions for opioids were provided, which is more than enough to give each American adult a bottle of pills
  • In 2017, 1.7 million people in the United States suffered from opioid abuse
  • In the same year, 652,000 people were reported to suffer from heroin use disorder
  • Close to 30% of people who are prescribed opioids for valid health reasons abuse the medication
  • Up to 12% of those prescribed opioids develop a substance use disorder
  • Up to 6% of those who use opioids will transition to heroin use
  • 80% of heroin users report having used opioids first

What Happens When You Use Opioids?

Opiates are a class of drugs that are usually prescribed to treat pain or as anesthetics. These include medications like:

  • Codeine
  • Oxycodone
  • Hydrocodone
  • Tramadol
  • Morphine
  • Hydromorphone
  • Carfentanil
  • Fentanyl

Derived from opium poppy plant extracts, various medications, and heroin, an illegal, highly addictive Schedule I substance, are synthesized. In the U.S., stringent prescription opiate controls are inadvertently driving addicts towards heroin—a cheaper, potent alternative with no recognized medical use. Heroin, known for its abuse potential, manifests as a brown, white powder, or black tar, causing relaxation, sedation, and cognitive clouding. As the crackdown on prescription opiates intensifies, heroin’s prevalence as a dangerous substitute underscores the escalating drug abuse and the opioid addiction crisis. Some of the short-term effects of opioids may include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Coma
  • Decreased respiration
  • Nausea
  • Unconsciousness
  • Constipation
  • Sedation
  • Pain relief

The feeling of calm and numbness that results from the use of opioids may give a person a sense of a ‘rush.’ This initial high can be described as pleasant, while the subsequent crash might make a person feel sick and unwell. This stark contrast between the feelings of being on opioids and off of them ultimately drives individuals to keep taking the drug. In the long run, opioids can cause some if not all of the following long-term effects:

  • Restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Pain
  • Cold flashes
  • Psychosis
  • Paranoia
  • Increased tolerance
  • Diarrhea
  • Anxiety

Opioid use commonly leads to increased tolerance, where frequent users find it difficult to function without the drug, craving more to maintain its effects. Initially, opioids provide relief and comfort, but over time, their effectiveness diminishes, pushing users to increase doses, and risking overdose. Addiction often results in neglecting daily responsibilities and engaging in illegal activities, such as theft and fraud, to secure the next dose. This pattern highlights the complex challenges of opioid addiction, where the quest for relief transitions into a cycle of dependency and risky behaviors.

How Do Opiates Affect the Brain?

Opioids disrupt the brain’s reward pathway, overly saturating neurons with dopamine to enhance pleasure, leading to tolerance as opioid receptors demand higher doses for the same effect. This cycle progresses to drug addiction, substance abuse, and dependence, with users consuming opioids to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Opioids also bind to neurotransmitters responsible for vital functions, suppressing them and causing sedation. Upon cessation, the brain overproduces neurotransmitters like noradrenaline, resulting in discomfort and anxiety, compelling users to continue opioid use to avoid these negative effects.

 

Treatment for Opiate Addiction

The treatment for opioid abuse is twofold: counseling and withdrawal management. The first focuses on the addiction’s social, mental, and emotional aspects, while the second works to ease the system into a drug-free state. Counseling for opioid addiction typically involves:

  • Looking into the factors that led to the use of opioids in the first place. Social factors like family dynamics or underlying mental health problems are typically associated with prescription medication abuse
  • Providing skills that can help individuals identify situations that trigger cravings and how to handle them
  • Teaching strategies that can help individuals establish stronger relationships with friends, family, and other support groups
  • Assisting in the adaptation of healthier habits like exercise, diet, and hobbies that help to divert the mind from the use of drugs
  • Giving pointers on practical steps that the individual can take in case of a relapse

On the other hand, withdrawal management for opioid addiction may include some of the following strategies:

  • Detoxification by slowly reducing the dosage of the drug until it is no longer needed. For opioid addiction, quitting cold turkey may be lethal, especially if the abuse is far too advanced.
  • Providing other medications like Clonidine, a blood pressure management med found to help with opioid abuse treatment. Under closely monitored conditions, some patients may be provided Buprenorphine.

 

Our Opioid Addiction Treatment in Dallas, TX

Opiate addiction can feel overwhelming, but recovery is within reach with the right treatment. Here are some options tailored to each individual’s unique needs.

  • Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Programs: Our opioid intensive outpatient program and partial hospitalization program in Dallas, TX are both clinical treatment options that provide care for those requiring intensive support during early recovery. PHP is ideal for individuals with severe opiate addiction, while IOP is suitable for those with mild to moderate addiction seeking comprehensive support.
  • Residential Program: Our long-term addiction treatment program is ideal for individuals with long-standing or severe opiate addiction. It offers a supportive environment for intensive therapy and healing.
  • Sober Living: For individuals who have completed primary treatment and need continued support, our sober living home provides a transitional step toward independence.
  • Recovery Coaching: Our sober coaching program offers personalized guidance and support for individuals at various stages of recovery. It’s a valuable addition to any treatment plan.

Determining the best treatment option depends on the severity of the addiction, individual needs, and goals. We’re here to help you find the path to lasting recovery.

 

Get Started With Lighthouse Recovery Texas

Reclaim control over your life with Lighthouse Recovery’s comprehensive opioid addiction treatment in Dallas. Through programs for partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient care, supportive sober living environments, and more, our dedicated team is here to guide you toward a brighter, drug-free future. Contact us today.

Get Started Today

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