Opioid Treatment & Rehab in Colorado

Like so many other states in the U.S., Colorado has been incredibly hard-hit by the opioid epidemic happening right now. There have been some steps taken to curb the overdose deaths related to opioids, which include prescription drugs and heroin, but the statistics remain troubling. If you’re someone in Colorado who is suffering from opioid addiction, it’s important to realize a few things.

First, you are not alone, and second opioid addiction can be treated successfully if you’re ready for that. Opioid addiction and addiction, in general, are looked at as chronic diseases, and they can be successfully treated and managed so that you can live a fulfilling life.

There are local resources for people throughout Colorado including Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs and statewide, and also national resources as well.

Opioids and Opiate Treatment in Colorado

There are more than 2.5 million Americans in the U.S. who are grappling with opioid use disorder, but again there are treatment options available. Scientific research shows that opioid and opiate addiction treatment that’s successful in facilitating a long-term recovery usually includes a combination of certain medications and behavioral counseling.

The objective is to address the patient holistically because opioid addiction is such a complex disease with so many factors that are part of it.

Opioid & Opiate Addiction Treatment & Rehab

Opioid Addiction Treatment and Opiate Addiction Treatment

There are quite a few different options for people who are seeking treatment for opioid addiction.

The first and often the best is inpatient rehab. During inpatient rehab, the patient first begins with a medically-assisted detox. This can include medications that will make them more comfortable and stabilize them as the opioids leave their system. Then, once a patient has gone through detox, they can begin the treatment program that usually includes a combination of counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy paired with supplemental activities.

The goal of inpatient treatment for opioid addiction is to help people understand their addiction and what led to it, to help find ways to treat it, and then to help the patient move forward and have a fulfilling life without opioids.

During the rehab period of treatment for opioid addiction, a team of addiction experts will also work to create an aftercare plan that can help reduce the likelihood of a relapse.

Other options in addition to inpatient rehab for opiate addiction include outpatient treatment and programs that only use medications like as Suboxone, but for many people, this doesn’t deal with the root causes of their addiction, and using only one method or having limited treatment tends to be less successful than intensive inpatient treatment.

Opioid and Opiate Rehab in Colorado

People often wonder what it’s like to enter into rehab for opiate addiction, and what happens at an opiate addiction rehab center.

At an inpatient center, as was touched on above it usually begins with a detox period, and then the treatment team can start building an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Full-service facilities will include medical care in addition to supportive and therapeutic resources. An opiate addiction rehab center in Colorado or elsewhere in the nation should be well-equipped to deal with the specifics of opioid addiction because it’s different from most other addictions.

These drugs affect the brain in a very specific way, and that has to be part of the treatment approach.

An opiate addiction rehab center will also help patients developing coping and life skills that they can use after leaving treatment, and these are the skills that will help them remain successful in their recovery.

Opioid Addiction Recovery & Opiate Addiction Recovery

With opioid addiction recovery and opiate addiction recovery, there is often a combination of therapy as well as medicine-based treatment.

For example, opioid withdrawal is considered an acute opioid-related disorder, so various treatments may be required such as antidepressants or medicines that relieve the symptoms of physical dependence to opioids.

Also part of a treatment program can be medicines that act as opioid agonists so that the patient doesn’t experience cravings for the drug. The focus of the medical components of opioid addiction recovery usually begins with a focus on helping reduce or alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings.

Then, once that happens, the patient is more ready to begin the work of opioid addiction recovery.

Opiate Addiction Help

There are some misconceptions about opiate addiction. The first is that you can do it on your own and just will yourself to stop using the drugs. This is not a realistic solution for the vast majority of people with a substance abuse disorder. Opiates change the way your brain functions, and it’s important that you get appropriate professional treatment. Another misconception is that there is no way to get opiate addiction help.

That’s also not true. Many people are successful in their recovery from opiate addiction, but it depends on a lot of factors including how willing you are to go to treatment, how long you stay in treatment and the support you have after treatment.

There are plenty of opiate addiction help resources in Colorado, including The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake, and there are also nationwide options.

Does Insurance Cover Opiate Rehab?

If you’re someone in Colorado who’s struggling with opiate addiction, you may think that professional treatment is out of your reach, but in many cases insurance will cover opiate rehab, fully or at least a portion.

Inpatient Rehab For Opiate Addiction

In almost every case with opiate addiction, including addictions to prescription painkillers or heroin, inpatient rehab is generally the best option. Inpatient rehab can typically range from 28 days to 90 days, although it can be shorter or longer. An inpatient facility gives your treatment team the opportunity to address not just your opioid addiction, but any other substance abuse issues you may have, underlying mental health issues that might have, and they can develop a full and comprehensive individualized treatment plan for you.

Inpatient rehab provides a safe, supportive environment that is so essential in those early days of recovering from opiate addiction.

There are also usually activities and support groups you can participate in, and you’ll be with other people who are also struggling with opioid addiction who can become part of your support structure.

Outpatient Rehab for Opiates

You may wonder if outpatient rehab for opiates is an option, and it is, but it’s not necessarily recommended as the first-line treatment for an opioid addict.

Outpatient rehab can be a stepping stone following inpatient treatment, or it can be useful for someone who has a minimal problem but maybe isn’t a full-blown addict.

There are options for people in Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder and all of Colorado who are seeking treatment for opioid and opiate addiction. These options are both local, and there are facilities around the country where they can travel for help as well.