Opiate drugs are those drugs that derive in some way from the opium poppy plant. Those that are synthetic are called opioids, but the two terms are often used interchangeably. Opiates are used for their narcotic, painkilling properties and are often prescribed in the forms of oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine. Illegal opiates include heroin and opium. Opiate drugs are highly addictive and must be taken with great caution. All too often people in Alabama and across the United States who take opiates for legal or illegal purposes fall victim to addiction. Alabama drug rehab centers can help you if you have developed an opiate addiction.
The two evidence-based treatment options for opioid abuse and addiction are behavioral therapy and medication. Though there are other treatment options available, these have been scientifically proven to be the most successful for opioid addiction recovery.
Opioid addiction treatment doesn’t just help a person stop abusing opioid drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it also decreases the patient’s criminal activity, improves their “occupational… and psychological functioning,” and helps them learn to better communicate with their loved ones.
Methadone maintenance, one of the most commonly used treatment options for opioid addiction, has been utilized as a comprehensive treatment program since the 1960s.
Opioid addiction is not something that occurs because someone “lacks moral principles or willpower” (NIDA). It happens because frequent substance abuse changes the way the brain works, making it impossible for the individual to stop taking the drug.
One usually cannot just stop taking opioids and suddenly be cured of their addiction. Professional treatment is almost always necessary for a full recovery.
Alabama TREATMENT STATS
According to the Alabama Governor’s Office, “723 people died in 2014 of drug overdoses,” which was an increase from 598 in 2013. This was especially due to the increase of opioid abuse in the state.
Governor Bently stated in a December 2016 press release that Alabama is the “highest painkiller prescribing state” in the U.S. In addition, the abuse rate of painkillers in the state of Alabama is more than that of the national average.
