Beating an addiction to prescription pain medications can be quite challenging. Pain medications, or opioids, are highly addictive prescription drugs. For individuals with an opioid addiction, will first need to go through detox to rid the body of the substance. This first step is followed by drug counseling which is a vital component for any therapy plan.
Counseling Approaches
There are many approaches to counseling that can be included in an individual therapy program. Once an individual has completed detox and the poison of the drug is gone from the body, they are ready to begin their treatment plan. Each persons plan is individualized to meet their specific needs. Often, there are several concerns that must be dealt with through treatment that are the result of their addiction.
Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, is an approach used in treatment along with other types of therapies like family counseling. Psychotherapy is also used in some situations to deal with mental health conditions that can contribute to a drug addiction. Unless psychological and social concerns are dealt with they can strongly motivate an individual to use drugs again.
Dependency
Even after the physical dependency to the drug is gone, there is a high probability of relapse. There are certain factors that provide temptations for using again. These factors can be spending time with people who still use, going to a specific area of town, or life stress. Therapy will help individuals learn alternative and appropriate skills for coping without the use of drugs.
Treatment
There are a number of therapies that are used with individuals addicted to prescription drugs. No particular method is identified as the best approach, nor is any one method right for all individuals with an addiction to Opioids. Each individual treatment plan is customized to the particular addiction and the needs of the individual.
Support Programs
Group therapy sessions are typically preferred to one on one therapy. With group sessions individuals find support from their peers and will also be challenged by them. A twelve step program is a type of group therapy that is well known and cost nothing to attend. In these types of therapy groups individuals can feel comfortable talking with others who are going through the same thing they are.
Co-Occurring Disorders
Individuals who have a dual diagnosis will benefit more from private one on one intensive outpatient services. A dual diagnosis might be the coexistence of a bipolar disorder, depression, or other disorder. When a person is dual diagnosed it is necessary to treat the mental health condition separate from the drug addiction.