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Mental Health and Wellness

The Role of Self-Care and Medication-Assisted Treatment in Opioid Addiction Recovery

By prioritizing self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones, our patients can reduce stress, improve overall well-being, and enhance resilience during the recovery process. Methadone Opioid Treatment can also play a significant role in managing withdrawal symptoms, reducing cravings for opioids, and improving overall well-being. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction, this article can provide valuable insights on how self-care and Methadone Opioid Treatment can work together to support long-term recovery!

April 20, 2023

C.O.R.E. Medical Clinic Team

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Opioid addiction can be a challenging condition to overcome, but there are many effective treatments available. Two important components of recovery from opioid addiction are self-care and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Self-care is a vital component of overall health and well-being, and it is especially crucial during the recovery process from opioid addiction. It involves taking care of one's physical, emotional, and mental health needs to improve overall health and reduce stress. Some examples of self-care activities that can be beneficial during addiction recovery include exercise, meditation, spending time with loved ones, and engaging in hobbies and interests that bring joy and fulfillment. By prioritizing self-care, individuals can better cope with the challenges of addiction recovery and improve their overall well-being.

In addition to self-care, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is also a highly effective treatment for opioid addiction. MAT involves the use of medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone to manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for opioids. These medications work by binding to the same receptors in the brain that opioids bind to, reducing the symptoms of withdrawal and reducing the risk of relapse. MAT has been shown to be highly effective in reducing opioid use, improving retention in treatment, reducing the risk of overdose, and increasing the likelihood of long-term recovery.

While self-care and MAT are different approaches to addiction recovery, they can still work very well together to support overall health and well-being. Prioritizing self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones can reduce stress and improve overall well-being during the recovery process. MAT can also help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for opioids, allowing individuals to focus on self-care and other aspects of recovery. By combining self-care and MAT, individuals can increase their chances of long-term recovery and improve their overall quality of life!

So, how can self-care and MAT work together to support recovery from opioid addiction? Great question! Here are a few ways:

  • Reducing Stress: Self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and spending time in nature can help reduce stress and anxiety, which can be especially important during the early stages of addiction recovery. MAT can also help reduce stress by managing withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings for opioids.
  • Boosting Overall Well-being: Prioritizing self-care can also improve overall well-being, which can support recovery from opioid addiction. By taking care of their physical, emotional, and mental health needs, individuals can feel more motivated and capable of maintaining their recovery efforts. MAT can also improve overall well-being by reducing the negative effects of opioid use on the body and mind.
  • Enhancing Resilience: Both self-care and MAT can help individuals build resilience, or the ability to bounce back from difficult situations. By taking care of themselves and managing their addiction with medication, individuals can better cope with the challenges of addiction recovery and adapt to changing circumstances.

Overall, self-care and medication-assisted treatment are both essential components of opioid addiction recovery. By prioritizing self-care activities that support their overall well-being and managing their addiction with medication, individuals can increase their chances of long-term recovery and improve their quality of life. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction, consider reaching out to a healthcare provider to explore treatment options such as MAT and develop a plan for prioritizing self-care during the recovery process.

Educational content from Core Medical Clinic. This article does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Initially, an intake assessment and admission medical history and exam is completed by counseling and medical staff. Treatment options are discussed and a course of action taken. Medication recommendations are made and initated to balance safety and benefit as much as possible. It is very important to let counseling, dispensing and medical staff know how the medication is working or not so appropriate adjustments can be made.

At C.O.R.E., we strive to individualize treatment and maximize success. There is no time pressure. Some do well with short term treatment while others benefit from long term treatment. We know relapse is common and can have disasterous results. We work hard to treat each patient as long as is required to achieve long term success.

First we work closely with the individual to achieve a “normalizing’ dose of medication to alleviate withdrawal and craving while minimizing side effects. Working closely with medical, dispensing and counseling staff most often allows us to achieve this goal in the first few days to weeks.

Not necessarily. C.O.R.E. Medical Clinic serves patients in Sacramento, West Sacramento, and surrounding areas. People often choose a clinic based on accessibility, treatment needs, and location.

C.O.R.E. Medical Clinic accepts several health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, MHN, Anthem, Medicare, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Optum, Blue Shield of California, Magellan Health, and Western Health Advantage.

As most patients entering treatment know, opioid withdrawal is awful and inevitably leads to continued use. We are sensitive to how terrible the craving, restlessness, anxiety, bone aches, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, sweating, etc. can be. If alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, or other drugs are involved withdrawal can be medically dangerous and require residential or coordinated medical care. Opioid withdrawal can be greatly reduced or eliminated by the early doses provided but again frequent contact with treatment staff for medication adjustments is very important.

The great majority of patients seeking treatment for opioid addiction can continue their normal life, including work, while they are working to find their ’normalizing’ medication dose. If residential or coordinated medical care is required, some time off may be necessary but again this will be individualized. Clinic hours are designed to accommodate the vast majority of working patients.

We work hard to educate patients about the benefits and safety of MAT. Many myths circulate about MAT such as it causing liver problems, bone problems and being harder to get off than fentanyl or heroin. These are absolutely false and will be discussed in detail with your treatment staff. Patients who receive MAT are much healthier than patients not in treatment. Learning to manage common side effects like constipation and weight gain can make patients healthier than they have ever been. All opioids are hard to get off but MAT can set up a very careful and safe detox when a patient is ready. An abrupt short term detox is not advised and can be difficult but a gradual, medically safe detox minimizes withdrawal symptoms. Supplemental safe, non addicting medications can further reduce unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

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