Conquering an Opiate Addiction, including an addiction to the drug Heroin; is not an easy thing to do by any stretch of the imagination. There are experts in the field of Addiction Medicine, which say that for many folks, an addiction to opiates is akin to having a chronic disease. What this means is that an addiction to opiates may last a lifetime, although the person does not have to be actively practicing the addiction the whole time. Being a chronic disease, like Diabetes for example, usually means the condition can be controlled but not necessarily cured.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is considered now to be the most effective treatment for Opiate Use Disorder. The goal for MAT is to try and convert the addict into a patient. Once the person has become a patient, he or she can be regularly monitored for opiates and other drugs of abuse. The patient sees a Physician regularly, who can very slowing taper down the MAT over time.
Factors which play a role in increasing the likelihood of success of MAT includes having a supportive family, not being made to feel ashamed, few if any problems with anxiety, depression and pain, using relatively low amounts of the abused drug, as well as having the problems with addiction spanning a shorter, rather than a longer period of time.
It takes effort to conquer any chronic disease. Most are unable to do it alone. The good news is, that help is available. If you or someone you know has a problem with drug addiction, call today: 601.261.9101. There’s Still Hope!
