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Opioid Overdose, Withdrawal and Treatment

Written by Freeman Recovery on . Posted in Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Inpatient Rehab, Partial Hospitalization.

An opioid overdose occurs when opioids adversely affect the part of the brain that controls respiration. This usually stems from addiction that requires detox. A dangerous and life-threatening symptom of an opioid overdose is problematic or suppressed breathing.

Without sufficient oxygen, death can occur quickly. Thus, an opioid overdose is a medical emergency that requires specific medication and medical attention immediately. 

What is An Opioid Overdose?

An opioid overdose happens when high levels of opioids or opioids and other substances excessively stimulate the area of the brain controlling breathing. Respiratory depression leads to death if not treated immediately. Cardiac arrest (heart attack) is a secondary concern after respiratory depression.

Opioids are central nervous system depressants and can lead to overdose, especially when combined with benzodiazepines. Everyone has a personal tolerance level for opioids, but in many cases, people are not aware that opioids are present in the drugs they are using. 

When an overdose occurs, medical professionals recommend entering a detox program immediately to avoid future overdose dangers. After an initial overdose, subsequent overdose danger increases. Treatment centers that specialize in detox are fully aware of these dangers and recommend medical supervision during detox.

The leading medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid withdrawal symptoms during detox are the following:

  • Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids
  • Methadone reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings
  • Buprenorphine softens withdrawal symptoms and cravings

Opioid Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that in 2021, just over 50 million people in the United States reported chronic pain, and another 17 million had high-impact pain. Treatments for this population also included 139,523,956 prescriptions for opioids. In the same year, prescriptions of Naloxone exceeded 1,184,612 to treat opioid overdose, and 16,105,318 prescriptions of buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction.

The use of fentanyl in nonmedical opioids is the primary cause of the increase in overdose. Overdose is the leading cause of death in the US, with opioids at the top of the scale of use. The alarming numbers the CDC collects point to 75% of opioid overdoses stemming from nonmedical use of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl.

Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Illegal synthetic opioids and drug manufacturers add fentanyl to make their drugs more attractive because of the added potency. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports in 2021, there were 80, 411 deaths from opioid overdoses. 

The Opioid Epidemic

An alarming trend brought opioids to the forefront when, from 1999 to 2021, nearly 645,000 people died from drug overdoses involving both prescription and illicit opioids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immediately took action to monitor this horrific rise in opioid overdose deaths. In 2021, the CDC reported 220 people each day died from opioid-involved overdose.

The opioid epidemic presents in 3 distinctive waves: 

  • An increase in opioid prescriptions in the 1990s began the rise in opioid overdose deaths in 1999.
  • In the year 2010, additional increases in overdose deaths were due to the use of heroin.
  • The third and most alarming wave began in 2013 when illicit fentanyl found its way into heroin, counterfeit pills, and cocaine. 

Types of Opioids

Opioids are narcotic medications that are both natural and synthetic. They can be very dangerous in their natural, purified, and concentrated form. Prescription narcotics treat chronic pain from injuries or surgery.

Opioids, primarily made in labs, are highly addictive and, through misuse, can cause unintentional addiction. Despite the dangers of addiction, opioids are the leading treatment for chronic pain.  

  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • Fentanyl

Fatal and Non-Fatal Opioid Overdoses

Non-fatal opioid overdose is much more common than fatal overdose involving opioids. Treatment options have become much more available to the public for the immediate treatment of opioid overdose. With public education on fentanyl and opioid overdose and the release of Narcan availability, fatalities are beginning to decrease. Knowing the signs of opioid overdose is essential for everyone because illicit opioid users will likely experience overdose. 

The World Health Organization describes the likelihood of fatal overdose depending on the administration, with injection being more likely. Other factors that result in a higher risk of fatal overdose with opioids are if tolerance is affected by a period of abstinence. People who are in relapse, hospital care, or custody may be impacted by overdose when use begins as the tolerance level changes. An opioid overdose is always a medical emergency.

The signs and symptoms of opioid overdose include:

  • Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness
  • Cyanosis (blue lips or fingernails)
  • Shallow, slowed or stopped breathing
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Snoring or gurgling sounds coming from the mouth
  • Cold and clammy skin

Opioids and Opiates: Are They the Same?

The 2 words are typically interchangeable, but they are different. Opioids are natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic chemicals that interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain.

The primary function of these drugs is to reduce pain levels and feelings of pain. Opiates are natural opioids such as heroin, morphine, and codeine. Opioids refer to all-natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl, Vicodin, and Percocet. 

Medications and Sprays Used to Treat Opioid Overdoses

Naloxone (Narcan) is the leading treatment for opioid overdose. Narcan reverses opioid overdose by being an opioid antagonist. This mediation attaches to the opioid receptors in the body and blocks the effects of opioids.

It comes in spray or injection form. The effectiveness continues for roughly 30 to 90 minutes, in time to receive professional medical treatment at a facility. Overdose effects can extend beyond that time, but physicians can address breathing issues and offer medical care. 

Get Hands-On Opioid Support in Tennessee

Opioid addiction is frightening because of the chance of a fatal overdose. Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee understands the addictive quality of opioids and how quickly tolerance, dependence, and addiction can happen. Opioid detox can be safe with medical management and the assistance of medication.

Contact the center to discuss the details of admission and begin the ending of an opioid addiction. 

 

client meets with a case manager to discuss personal budget

What Is the Role of Case Management in Addiction Treatment?

Written by Freeman Recovery on . Posted in Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Inpatient Rehab, Partial Hospitalization.

Addiction treatment centers offer various services, but not all centers provide case management in addiction treatment for their patients. For example, if a patient must receive care from multiple facilities, a manager can coordinate the treatment plan to link all facilities. 

Someone deciding whether they need a case manager to coordinate all the treatment services that cover an individual’s needs can depend on the complexity of the treatment plan. Lastly, the case manager’s role in addiction treatment is to ensure the patient receives medical, behavioral health, and addiction treatment services in harmony to meet the patient’s goals. 

What Is Case Management?

Case management in addiction treatment coordinates an individualized approach to achieving the patient’s treatment goals through a manager. A case manager evaluates the treatment plan, and facilitates the services needed to ensure all therapies are complete. Another factor is determining the best facility for the patient to receive the care.

Medical care, behavioral health therapies, and aftercare programs process through the manager. Finally, case management is proving extremely effective on a large-scale basis. Addiction treatment centers only sometimes utilize case management opportunities.

Federally qualified health centers (FQHC), veteran’s programs, community health centers, and specialty addiction treatment centers recommend case management in addiction treatment. SAMHSA states through one of their studies “the percentage of treatment programs using case management has risen since 2000 from 66% of the 13,418 facilities then in operation to 83% of the 15,961 facilities operating in 2019.” 

What Is the Role of Case Management in Addiction Treatment?

The role of case management in addiction treatment is to evaluate and identify from the initial screening and assessment of the patient’s medical, behavioral health, and substance use treatment to achieve recovery goals.  Also, the case manager helps match therapies’ financial components with accepting facilities.

Particular need considerations weave into the plan to treat the patient as a whole and ensure the best practices for addiction treatment services. The case manager communicates with all entities to provide a streamlined effort of facilitation of all treatments. With a trend to move forward in addiction treatment based on patient-centered care, case management in addiction treatment increases the effectiveness of all therapies.

They familiarize themselves with the patient’s history, addiction, and family dynamics and work with them to set reasonable goals and a plan to meet them. Case managers are familiar with many types of services available to those seeking treatment, as well as the facilities and community-based programs. Finally, case managers are patient advocates throughout the drug treatment plan. 

What Does A Case Manager Do?

Case managers begin their efforts before treatment begins for a patient. They coordinate the process by guiding patients through the admissions process, assessments, and initial setup of the treatment plan. In each case, the needs are different with case management in addiction treatment.

It can be a security source for patients, their families, and the treatment team to receive communications and appointment schedules understanding and compassionately. Throughout the treatment process, the addiction case manager coordinates continuing care needs. In aftercare, the manager can facilitate sober living arrangements as a knowledgeable case manager is familiar with an endless list of resources.

Case management in addiction treatment is an invaluable source of relief for families who want to know about milestones, accomplishments, and the continual progress of recovery. Therefore, case managers are a source of peace for everyone involved with the patient receiving addiction treatment services. 

Why Patients Use Case Management During Addiction Treatment

Because many patients in an addiction treatment facility have co-occurring mental health disorders and physical conditions that need additional treatment, increasing numbers of people are incorporating case managers to coordinate care.

How common are these dilemmas occurring? In 2019 SAMHSA reported that with 9.5 million adults with a substance use disorder, 3.6 million had a mental health disorder. Comorbid physical illnesses are heart disease, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS are the most common, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2020. 

Case management in addiction treatment works to achieve a better chance of successful recovery, continued sobriety, and a source of support throughout future endeavors for the patient. With various needs to coordinate, including medication regimens, case managers have experience with the big picture of addiction treatment and re-establishing the patient’s well-being.

Benefits of Using Case Management During Addiction Treatment

The following benefits of case management may identify issues most people need to think of during the initial stages of seeking treatment: 

  • Identifying the needs of those seeking recovery: There is no one size fits all recovery process. Each treatment plan is an individual journey. Addiction case managers learn about the patient first, identify their individual needs, then apply their expertise to address needs with available services. 
  • Brings new lifestyle tools and support to patients: Those in recovery have goals of living a sober lifestyle healthily and positively moving forward from treatment. Case managers familiar with the patient’s needs gauge what tools and skills to concentrate on for each patient.  
  • Case managers coordinate care for all needs: As mentioned before, substance use disorders are only one point of care in treatment. Mental and physical treatments are a big part of the overall treatment plan for total success in recovery. Case managers can coordinate appointments, therapies, and medication management when needed. 
  • Bringing valuable experience to the table: Case managers work with those in addiction treatment with many needs. The ability to support and encourage using compassion and understanding helps avoid common obstacles in recovery. Above all, most case managers use an as-needed approach, slowly withdrawing the level of support, and the patient gains strength and self-confidence. 

Discover Case Management for Addiction Treatment in Tennessee 

We offer case management in addiction treatment at Freeman Recovery Center. For example, for those who are experiencing legal, financial issues or complex family issues, case management can intervene as a patient’s advocate. Instead of giving up on treatment, utilizing our case management services is an excellent alternative. 

If you are seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction in Tennessee, Freeman Recovery Center offers you relief from the confusion. This remarkable program allows individuals to be guided through all processes with a case manager. They can coordinate the treatment team for the best success. If you are overwhelmed with all the information you’ve received, check in with our case management team. This comprehensive program is a welcome addition to your treatment plan at our center.

Call us today.

client completes intake for partial hospitalization program in Nashville, TN

What is Partial Hospitalization Addiction Treatment?

Written by Freeman Recovery on . Posted in Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Partial Hospitalization.

Choosing an addiction treatment program can be confusing, stressful, and overwhelming. For example, what is partial hospitalization addiction treatment? However, if your search for a program has pointed out that your best option is toward Partial Hospitalization (PHP) treatment, Freeman Recovery offers many diverse group opportunities within a clinically structured program. PHP is an excellent opportunity for treatment with a medically supervised, structured day program. PHP is easily coordinated with mental and physical health needs. If you’re exploring this option, this could be a good fit.

What is a Partial Hospitalization Program?

What is partial hospitalization addiction treatment? Daily treatment programs allow patients to receive critical elements of treatment, allowing them to go home at night. Stepping away from detox and residential treatment, PHP continues teaching healthy lifestyle skills, intensive therapy programs, and a structured educational plan. A PHP could be the answer if you’re looking for a vehicle to provide life-long recovery and relapse prevention.

The PHP program utilizes evidence-based therapies, including individual and group. Access to medical professionals and newly introduced mental health holistic therapies are a consideration. What is partial hospitalization addiction treatment? A partial hospitalization program is a vital relapse prevention opportunity for those who need to work or go to school.

The program is structured to encompass attendance five days per week, generally six hours a day, and this option also offers sober living arrangements. In addition, most programs have extensive mental health considerations and encourage newer therapy modalities. For example, experiential & talk therapy is proving to be successful. Finally, in-depth educational opportunities can guide you toward living without using substances as a crutch.

Therapies Provided in Partial Hospitalization Addiction Treatment

Breaking down therapy opportunities with a partial hospitalization program can reveal an insight into their success. Understanding the purpose of each type of therapy will reveal why this program is invaluable. What is partial hospitalization addiction treatment?  This therapy allows the individual to dig deep into their personal growth through constant guidance and an understanding as to why they became addicted in the first place.

  • Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). A licensed mental health professional is chosen through the initial needs assessment. CBT is geared toward changing negative behaviors and thought patterns that can lead to abusing alcohol or drugs. In addition, this type of therapy offers a safe environment for trust to be developed. In this therapy, the patient learns about identifying triggers that might lead to negative behaviors and thoughts. Then, learning to replace those negative behaviors with healthy coping mechanisms is vital. In addition, CBT involves trauma work, learning about building self-esteem, and new relationship skills. Finally, goal setting is vital in learning how to increase self-worth.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). A form of CBT, DBT is geared toward learning how to recognize, regulate and process emotions and feelings.
  • Experiential and talk therapy. Found to be highly effective in treating substance use disorders, a combination of theories including Gestalt therapy, talk therapy, and specific aspects of CBT.  This therapy addresses denial, initiating cooperation in treatment, developing insights, and using more positive approaches in the process.
  • Group therapy. Trained mental health professionals facilitate group sessions each day. Peer support is incredibly effective for relapse prevention, building social skills, and learning how to communicate effectively. Trust and vulnerability being essential factors in the group, allow the patient to remove their walls and share their fears and difficulties.

Benefits of Partial Hospitalization Programs

What is partial hospitalization addiction treatment? A beneficial, cost-effective, flexible, transitional treatment in a structured, professionally supervised environment. Without flexibility and structure, relapse is possible. Therefore, it is essential to remember the goal is sobriety and relapse prevention.

  • Medication management is a desirable and helpful benefit of partial hospitalization programs. However, new treatment approaches are leaning toward softening the blow to include medications that are useful to counteract chemical changes in the brain that have caused damage. This benefit is only possible through scrutiny of the professional medical supervision supplied in the program.
  • Drug Testing for Accountability: Relapses can happen. Although the goal is to stay sober, patients must maintain accountability, and drug testing is crucial. All patients must know that random drug testing is part of the program.
  • Flexibility in Program Length: This is a personal determination. Depending upon the severity of the addiction and the previous programs participated in, the program time frame varies. Compliance, support systems, and the ability to manage a successful and sober lifestyle are determining factors.

What is partial hospitalization addiction treatment? This addiction treatment is an exciting, flexible, and desirable option. Insurance may pay for this part or all of this type of program. However, if you are serious about a life-long commitment to sobriety, starting on the right foot using all available tools is a wise choice. Freeman Recovery Center can help you make this vital decision while addressing concerns.

Find Help In Choosing Partial Hospitalization Addiction Treatment in Tennessee

Are you deciding to invest in your future by choosing a PHP for addiction treatment? If you are in Tennessee or looking to recover in this area, Freeman Recovery Center offers professional, flexible, and successful PHP programs. It is a lovely program with many group therapies and sober living opportunities. Contact us to start your journey now.