A drug and alcohol detox process will be a different experience for each patient, when an addict is using methadone, they will require a methadone detox center to help them successfully detox off of the drug. Methadone detox can be a difficult process for a person, and they will go through some tough withdrawal symptoms. Methadone withdrawals cause many different physical symptoms, and addicts will require medical supervision in a methadone detox center to help them.
Methadone: Information, Statistics, & Solutions
TIPS: If you feel you're going to use
- Call your sponsor or a friend who doesn't use it and understands your situation.
- Extrovert your attention. Walking and spending time outside can be very therapeutic.
- Find a hobby or activity to take your mind off of using. (i.e., art, music, cooking, gardening)
- Find a purpose in your life and pursue it. (i.e., school, career, volunteering)
- Recognize the people in your environment who affect you emotionally. They could be one of the reasons for your emotional problems.
- Make sure to eat healthy foods. A deficiency in vitamins and minerals can create a drop in mental and physical energy.
TIPS: If you want to help someone
- Don't enable the addict. This includes not giving him any money, not paying their rent, etc.
- Encourage the person to seek help. This can be done by finding a treatment or a form of support.
- Be aware of signs of overdose. If you see one of your friends blacking out, or showing other severe side effects, get help immediately.
- Support the person while they look for rehab since the process can be overwhelming.
- Don't wait for rock bottom; it may be too late.
Methadone Dependence and Opioid Addiction in North Dakota
North Dakota methadone detoxification programs are practical solutions to help someone dependent on the drug. Medically supervised detox is necessary because of the dangerous withdrawal symptoms the drug creates. Medication-assisted treatment is also a practical solution to help addicts, along with various methods of counseling following the detox. According to the North Dakota Department of Human Services, the number of overdose deaths in the state has decreased for the first time since 2016. During 2016 there was a record of 77 deaths in the state, which then decreased by 13.2% to 68 deaths in 2017. Legally prescribed and illicit opioids accounted for about 67.8 % of all drug overdose deaths within the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, methadone accounted for approximately one percent of all opioids prescribed in the United States. Additionally, methadone accounted for 23% of all opioid-related overdose deaths during 2014. Methadone is a synthetic opioid typically prescribed to treat opiate addiction, but also prescribed to treat pain. Methadone acts on the same opioid receptors as any other pain medication. Within the Unites methadone is federally designated Schedule II, which means it is used medically, but highly addictive. Methadone is heavily regulated within the United States, but despite this, drug users are still able to acquire the drug illegally. The sustained and long-term use of methadone does lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction.
However, the rate of drug overdose deaths within North Dakota remains one of the lowest within the nation at 9.2 per 100,000 residents. Unfortunately, many opiate addicts turn to methadone as a way to treat their addiction. However, most methadone users remain on the drug for longer than needed and become dependent on it. It is dangerous and difficult to stop taking methadone, and medical detox is always needed. Following detox, the next treatment step is either inpatient or outpatient drug treatment. When searching for treatment within the state, it is essential to consider what method of counseling is needed. Every addict struggles with different underlying issues connected to his or her addiction. These issues are effectively treated with therapy and aftercare treatment.
What's Next?
After completing a methadone detox and/or rehab in North Dakota, it is vital to arrange aftercare support. No one form of recovery support is the same for each person. Sober coaches, group meetings, outpatient programs, or sober living homes in North Dakota all offer excellent recovery opportunities to consider. The goal is to maintain life-long sobriety.
