Sunday, June 19, 2016

Essential Information Regarding Treatment For Heroin Addiction

By Steven Martin


Dependency on drugs affects the function and performance of the brain. It also affects the behavior of the individual. Hard and soft drugs are the main reason for the low rates of employment, spreading of sexually transmitted diseases and wastage of valuable manpower. There are two main ways carried out in Treatment for Heroin addiction, behavioral and pharmacologic methods. The article will explain some of the valuable information you should know about the program.

The rehabilitation method known as the pharmacological method has been discovered through scientific research to reduce the intake of drugs and also make it easier for the patients to continue with the rehabilitation program. The method involves using other drugs to help in dealing with the addiction to another drug. The drug has been tested to ensure that it does not bring about the same behavior changes as the addictive drug.

The drugs used in treating addiction; work on the same receptors that the addictive drugs affect. However, the drugs will rarely produce the same behaviors on the patient as the drug to ensure further damage on the brain is avoided. The medications are categorized into three types according to how they function, agonists that work through activating the receptors. Secondly, partial agonists that also activate the receptors but create smaller responses and antagonists that block the receptors.

During the detoxification stage of rehabilitation, most patients will face withdrawal symptoms that encourage most of the patients into relapse. Different patients will have different symptoms that also vary in intensity. To avoid relapses, some drugs are provided to the patients to help them feel more comfortable and at ease by reducing the physical symptoms and reducing cravings.

The drugs used in the pharmacological method are taken in different ways that is either orally, sublingually or through injections. Methadone an agonist drug is one of the medications taken orally. The oral administration ensures it acts slowly as required. Buprenorphine, a partial agonist, is taken either orally or sublingually. Lastly, the Naltrexone, an antagonist that is injected into the body monthly.

The behavioral method suits outpatients and people living in residential homes. It is divided into cognitive behavioral therapy and cognitive management. In cognitive behavioral therapy, the expectations and behavior of the patients to the drugs is changed, and they are skilled on how to handle life. Contingency management mainly involves awarding of the patient for every negative result.

Although the behavioral and pharmacologic treatments work best alone, some patients will require a combination of both methods to ensure more effective rehabilitation. The method used thus solely depends on the condition or character of the patient. Only a professionally qualified doctor in rehabilitation should analyze and determine the best method of treating an addict.

Due to different needs, the treatment methods, medications, and methods will differ between the patients. The doctor will assess the needs of the patient and settle for the treatment he/she finds most appropriate. The guardian of a patient may also help a doctor decide on the best treatment method for the patient.




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