More than 10 million Americans misuse opioids each year. Opioids are highly addictive and dangerous, and opioid misuse, dependence, and addiction are a growing health crisis in the United States.
Some types of opioids are legal prescription painkillers, like oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine. Other opioids are illegal drugs like heroin. But whether you use legal or illegal opioids, the result can be the same: opioid addiction.
Using and abusing opioids can lead to dependence and addiction, which means your body needs the drug to feel normal. You may even go to great lengths to use the drug. Opioid dependence causes mental fog, slowed breathing, and the risk of overdose and death.
Though addiction causes physical changes in your body and brain, help is available. Daniel J. Headrick, MD, and our compassionate team at Headrick Medical Center specialize in comprehensive opioid addiction treatment. We work with people of all ages who are ready to overcome addiction and improve their lives.
Addiction is a medical condition characterized by the inability to stop using a particular substance despite the negative effects it has on your life. Common signs of addiction include:
Anyone can suffer from opioid use disorder or addiction, regardless of their age, gender, race, or socioeconomic class. It’s possible to develop an addiction to opioids even if you legally received a prescription from a doctor.
Addiction often triggers noticeable changes in performance at work or school, lack of interest in hobbies, and withdrawal from social activities. People suffering from opioid addiction may also go to extreme lengths to obtain and use the drug, including stealing from loved ones or engaging in risky or life-threatening behavior.
Addiction can be overwhelming, but treatment could help you overcome it. Dr. Headrick and our team specialize in opioid addiction recovery, and we offer a range of services to help you start your journey to a better life.
Our outpatient detox program can help you stop using opioids, and it’s the first step of recovery for many people.
Our outpatient program allows you to keep your job and maintain your usual routine while receiving needed treatment, but that doesn’t mean it requires less commitment than a traditional inpatient detox program.
When you start outpatient detox, you commit to stop using drugs and promise to attend regular appointments and meetings. Our team offers medication management and we guide you through a customized program to help you detox at home and stay sober.
Medication-assisted therapy (MAT) is a comprehensive treatment that combines counseling and other therapies with prescription medication to treat opioid addiction. Depending on your needs, available medications include Sublocade®, Suboxone®, and Vivitrol®.
Addiction medications can support recovery because they reduce cravings, minimize withdrawal symptoms, and limit the way drugs interact with your brain. To be effective, the medication should be taken exactly as prescribed.
Our MAT services give you the support you need to focus on therapy and long-term recovery.
It’s never too late to seek treatment for your opioid addiction. If you’re ready to change your life and overcome your addiction, reach out to our team at Headrick Medical Center. Call our office at 949-220-2412 or book an appointment online to learn more today.
