Opioids are a class of drugs used medicinally to treat the symptoms of pain. However, these substances can be incredibly addictive when taken long-term or in excess. Even further, opioid addiction can pose a serious risk of experiencing life-threatening overdoses.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), opioids were responsible for 80,411 overdose deaths in 2021.[1]

If you or a loved one suffer from opioid addiction, it’s time to seek professional help. The best way to overcome an opioid use disorder is to attend a reputable opioid rehab center in North Carolina.

How to Know When It’s Time for Opioid Rehab

When you develop an addiction to any substance, it can be difficult to recognize in yourself. This is because of the way substance use disorders affect your central nervous system and critical thinking skills. Oftentimes, denial presents as believing you do not have a problem with opioids when it is clear to others that you are struggling.

If you are unsure whether you require treatment for opioid addiction, look for the following signs:[2]

• Using more opioids than you intended to take
• Using opioids more often than you are supposed to
• Going to multiple doctors to receive more than one prescription of opioids (“doctor shopping”)
• Continuing to use opioids despite facing physical and mental health issues
• Having a hard time stopping your opioid use despite desiring to quit
• Being unable to complete daily responsibilities at work, school, or home because of your opioid use
• Needing a higher dose of opioids to experience the desired effect (building a tolerance)
• Experiencing uncontrollable urges or cravings to misuse opioids
• Developing withdrawal symptoms when you miss a dose of opioids

It’s time to consider attending a rehab program if you or a loved one meets the criteria for opioid addiction.

What to Expect During Opioid Rehab in North Carolina

Opioid rehab in North Carolina is designed to help you overcome the root causes of your addiction, learn to cope with emotions healthily and understand how to prevent relapse in the future. By using a combination of evidence-based addiction treatment methods, opioid addiction treatment programs can provide you with a strong foundation for recovery.

Medical Detox

Some opioid rehab programs in North Carolina include medical detox in their services, which is the first step in recovering from an addiction.

Because opioid addiction causes your brain and body to become dependent on the substance you abuse, you will experience withdrawal symptoms during early sobriety. Medical detox provides you with the treatment, medical supervision, and medications necessary to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms.

Evidence-Based Behavioral Therapy

After you have completed detox, you will begin working on the emotional and behavioral aspects of recovery. A huge part of this is engaging in individual therapy. During individual therapy, mental health experts will use evidence-based practices to teach you healthy coping mechanisms, address the root causes of your addiction, and provide you with effective ways to deal with real-life situations.

Examples of evidence-based therapies used during opioid rehab in North Carolina include:[3]

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Motivational interviewing (MI)
• Contingency management (CM)
• 12-step facilitation therapy
• The matrix model
• Family behavior therapy

Group Counseling

In addition to individual therapy, you will participate in group counseling, engaging in therapy with a few of your peers. Oftentimes, several different counseling groups have a specific focus on certain issues like relapse prevention, healing from trauma, and more.

Group therapy will provide you with the ability to gain support and advice from your peers while you learn how to change negative patterns of behavior and deal with your emotions in a productive manner.

Relapse Prevention Planning and Aftercare

Lastly, one of the main focuses of opioid rehab centers in North Carolina is relapse prevention planning. Before you leave the facility you will work with your therapist to create a relapse prevention plan that is designed to help you remain sober long-term. Because the transition from living in a facility to the outside world can be extremely difficult, this is an extremely important step.

Relapse prevention plans and aftercare services often include:

• A list of triggers and coping mechanisms to use
• People you can call for support in times of need
• Continued attendance of individual or group therapy
• Access to alumni support groups
• Referrals to outpatient or sober living programs
• Recommendations on local support groups to attend like Alcoholics Anonymous
• Case management services like vocational or legal assistance

These services will work together to ensure that you are armed with the resources and support you need to achieve long-term sobriety outside of an opioid rehab facility.

Start Treatment at Our Opioid Rehab Center in North Carolina

If you or a loved one suffer from opioid addiction, it’s time to seek help. Opioid addiction can negatively impact every area of your life, making it difficult to function on a day-to-day basis. By attending an opioid rehab program in North Carolina, you can receive the tools you need to maintain lifelong sobriety.

To learn more about our opioid addiction treatment center in North Carolina, contact the Carolina Center for Recovery today.

References:

1. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA): Drug Overdose Death Rates, Retrieved September 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
2. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM): DSM-5 Criteria for Diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder, Retrieved September 2023 From https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/education-docs/dsm-5-dx-oud-8-28-2017.pdf
3. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Evidence-based practices for substance use disorders, Retrieved September 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678283/