Opioid addiction is a serious disease that changes the way your brain works. Understanding how medicinal or recreational drug use can turn into addiction starts with opioid receptors: the parts of your brain responsible for pain and pleasure.
Successfully treating addiction to opioids, alcohol, and other substances usually involves both medication and counseling. Dr. Daniel Headrick and his compassionate team at Headrick Medical Center in San Juan Capistrano, California, help you get a handle on your addiction with medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines counseling and behavioral therapies to help end the cycle of substance abuse. Dr. Headrick and our professionally trained staff use medications such as Suboxone®, Sublocade™, and Vivitrol® to reduce cravings and symptoms of withdrawal to help heal your addiction and prevent relapse.
Our doctors employ safe, cost-effective medications to help patients recover from addiction. MAT can:
Opiates cross the blood-brain barrier, adhering to receptors within our brains. This prompts feelings of euphoria that lead to dependence on a drug. Dr. Headrick and our staff use both counseling and specific medications to block your cravings for optimal results.
When it comes to addiction, there’s no single treatment plan that works for everyone. We treat addiction by understanding each patient’s specific cues, patterns, and family history. Once we do, we incorporate medication to help reduce your physical cravings and withdrawal symptoms along with counseling to help resolve deeper psychological issues.
Counseling can also help you learn new strategies that enable you to alter your lifestyle and addictive behaviors to avoid relapse.
In order to reduce your dependence on opioids, Dr. Headrick may use medications that lessen the effects of more addictive drugs. These medications include:
Made of buprenorphine and naloxone, Suboxone binds to the same brain receptors as oxycodone, heroin, and morphine. It minimizes the effect of these opiates to reduce cravings. Since it doesn’t produce the same feelings of euphoria, it’s less likely to lead to abuse. Combined with therapy, Suboxone helps you return to a more normal life.
Sublocade is a partial opioid agonist that contains buprenorphine, which blocks the opioid receptors in your brain. We can inject Sublocade once a month to aid in your recovery.
A non-addictive Vivitrol injection blocks receptor sites. It provides an extended-release version of Naltrexone to help you end your dependence on alcohol or drugs.
Dr. Headrick can discuss the pros and cons of these medications to help you decide which suits you best.
Dr. Headrick and our caring staff can discuss the many benefits of medication-assisted treatment with you at any time. Remember, you’re not alone.
Discover how a comprehensive program can help shed light on your addiction. Contact our office or book an appointment online today.
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