Opioid dependence is a situation whereby someone gets dependent on opioids to the point of putting their health and the health and security of others at risk.
People end up with opioid dependence, either through the use of illicit drugs or through the use of over the counter medications that have opioids in them. These potent addictive substances are found in pain medications such as morphine.
Currently, the world is in the throes of an opioid crisis, which is why there are a number of organizations specifically set up to help people struggling with opioid dependence. These bodies, for instance, MATOD (Medical Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence), can offer a way out of this problem for many people.
How to Treat Opioid Dependence
Once you suspect that you have an opioid dependence, you should speak to a professional. A doctor can offer the advice you need on how to treat the problem in addition to confirming that you actually have the problem.
Each treatment plan is unique based on the level of dependence and the individual in question. Also, a doctor would be in a better position to know which medications are most appropriate for you depending on issues like pregnancy, use of other medications and so forth.
More importantly, a doctor will need to get a green light from the Drugs of Dependence Unit before recommending any medications. Involving a doctor in your treatment is also important because it ensures that any negative effects of the medical interventions are handled properly.
Usually, a lot of oversight might be involved in the process of treating opioid dependence. For instance, daily medication doses might be supervised to prevent abuse; and this might even include urine and blood tests to confirm that you do not continue using the disallowed substances.
A little vigilance on your part will also be required. For instance, you should check with your pharmacist to ensure that you get all the required doses. More importantly, the doses must be taken as recommended by the doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
Typically, methadone or buprenorphine is used to treat opioid dependence. These medications are quite strong, and they need to be taken as the doctor recommends. As a safety measure, they should also be kept away safely to prevent anyone else from taking them, regardless of whether they are an adult of a child.
While getting treatment for opioid dependence, it is important to avoid drug diversion, misuse and anything else that would put you or anyone else at risk. For instance, giving your medication to another person is a serious breach of the prescribed treatment protocol for opioid dependence; and it has to be avoided at all costs.
That said, if someone takes your medication by mistake, whether an adult or a child, you should call an ambulance for help immediately.
Opioid dependence is a serious problem today. While this is worrying, the seriousness of the problem has also helped bring a lot of attention to the issue from both governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Therefore, although treating opioid dependence is a little demanding, there are a lot of easily accessible ways to find the required treatment and attain sobriety, as the points above indicate.