One of the biggest problems with addiction recovery is the possibility of transferring addictions. A patient may think they are doing the right thing by avoiding an illegal substance to overcome an addiction. They may self medicate with alcohol or pain pills to get past the initial pains and struggles of withdrawal. Pain pill addiction and alcohol addiction are two of the most common transfer addictions.
How to avoid a transfer addiction
A general rule of thumb would be to omit all substances during the withdrawal or addiction recovery process. However, this is not always possible. Sometimes, medications are needed to treat the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Methadone rehab centers can be helpful in successfully making it through withdrawal, without transferring addictions.
Pill addictions are an increasing problem in the country. Of the 20.5 million Americans 12 or older that had a substance use disorder in 2015, 2 million had a substance use disorder involving prescription pain relievers and 591,000 had a substance use disorder involving heroin. A transfer addiction between heroin and pain pills is one of the most common. Methadone rehab centers are prepared for this possibility and have the tools to avoid and prevent it.
How methadone rehab centers can help
Methadone rehab centers can help in a few ways. Firstly, they are prepared for the possibility of a transfer addiction. Instead of using prescription pills to overcome the uncomfortable side effects of withdrawal, they use methadone. Methadone is not addictive and is not as easily obtained outside of the methadone clinic, making it more difficult to become addicted. Methadone clinics have very high of success rates, especially when compared to other addiction treatment options. Methadone treatment success rates range from 60% to 90%, and outcomes improve the longer a patient remains in treatment.
Secondly, a methadone center has qualified professionals to help patients through the withdrawal process. A patient that is forced to go through withdrawal alone is not able to distinguish expected symptoms versus dangerous symptoms. When the withdrawal is done in a fully monitored place, such as with methadone clinics, appropriate medical care can be given when needed and substances, like prescription pain medications, can be avoided.
Expected success rates of methadone clinics
Of course, the exact success rates depend on the individual, the type of addiction, and the length of time spent in treatment, but overall, methadone clinics seem to have the highest addiction treatment rates. For more than 50 years, methadone has proven to be the most effective treatment for individuals afflicted with opiate addiction. It may also be used for heroin addiction, or in many cases after a transfer addiction has occurred between the two. Either way, methadone clinics have proven to be one of the most successful and reliable forms of addiction treatment.
Knowing when to get help
A methadone clinic is not helpful if the patient never makes it to one. Perhaps one of the biggest struggles of addiction treatment is for the patient to admit that they have a problem, and then to take the necessary steps to recover from it. Fortunately, methadone clinics can also take consultation intakes. These intakes act as an information source for interested patients. Patients can learn the warning signs of addiction or a transferred addiction. They can also learn what to expect from a methadone treatment center. From here, they can make the decision to improve their addiction situation.
Many addiction treatments can cause further addictions. Getting through the pain of a heroin withdrawal can lead to alcohol abuse or pain pill addiction. For this reason, it is extremely important to work with a professional. Professional counselors and medical physicians at methadone rehab centers have some of the best success rates in preventing transfer addictions and in making the withdrawal process as comfortable as possible.
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