Which treatment option may be right for you?

Help manage your opioid dependence through a combination of treatment, counseling, and peer support.

Medication-assisted treatment
Medication-assisted treatment works best when it's combined with counseling and frequently includes peer support as well. By suppressing withdrawal symptoms and decreasing cravings, certain medications can help patients stay in treatment—which can help them get their lives back on track. Treatments include:

Medication-assisted treatment in a physician's office
Certified doctors treat opioid dependence in the privacy of their offices. Benefits of medication-assisted treatment include improved treatment retention and reduced illicit opioid use by suppressing withdrawal symptoms and decreasing cravings.

During in-office treatment, doctors also refer patients to counseling, and help them find the ongoing support that best fits their needs. Counseling can help patients learn how to cope with events or social situations associated with past drug use, and learn skills that can help them recognize triggers and prevent relapse so they can focus on rebuilding their lives.

Learn more about treatment in the privacy of a doctor’s office, and find a certified doctor near you.

Medication-assisted treatment in a clinic with methadone
Since 1972, methadone has been used to help people recover from dependence on heroin or prescription painkillers. Methadone has helped many patients successfully manage their dependence. Patients may stay on methadone for several months to a few years. Some people benefit from lifelong treatment.

Patients usually visit a methadone clinic regularly to receive their medication. For more information on methadone treatment programs, please visit www.aatod.org.

Talking with a doctor about your options can help. Find a doctor near you who is certified to treat opioid dependence in the privacy of his or her office.

Many have faced opioid dependence. Hear what others have experienced—and what worked for them.

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Counseling
As with many other personal challenges, there’s more to opioid dependence than just its physical side: how you feel about yourself and the choices you make may also play a part in opioid dependence. Counseling can be very effective in addressing the psychological and behavioral aspects of dependence: in fact, combining medication-assisted treatment with psychosocial counseling increases the likelihood of treatment success.

Working with a counselor or therapist, or listening to other people who share your concerns, may help you learn to recognize the situations, feelings, or events that could "trigger" a desire to misuse opioids. Recognizing these triggers in yourself and the world around you—and learning new coping skills—can help you to avoid triggers or to manage them as they happen. Types of counseling include:

Group therapy
Many patients find group therapy particularly effective for treating opioid dependence because it provides a support network, along with:

• Peer support and acceptance
• Real-world examples of other people experiencing recovery
• Positive feedback to help improve patients' self-image
• Family-like environment

Individual therapy
Private sessions with a counselor may work well for patients being treated for depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues that might be contributing to their opioid use.

Talking with a counselor can help
Speak with a certified physician about finding a qualified counselor.

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In-patient treatment programs
In-patient programs can offer around-the-clock support and highly structured programs. In-patient treatment programs include:

Hospitalization
Patients and their treatment team may decide that a hospital is the best solution for a while. There are many types of hospital services for people with substance abuse, ranging from in-patient stays with intense medical monitoring and treatment to outpatient counseling programs they can attend while living at home.

Residential treatment centers
At residential treatment centers, patients leave their everyday lives for a period of time, living with other patients in a center that is set up to help them manage their opioid dependence. Typically residential centers offer training, education, and intensive counseling to help patients rebuild a drug-free life. Depending on their needs and the center, patients might stay anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year.

Talking with a doctor about your options can help. Find a doctor certified to treat opioid dependence in the privacy of his or her office.

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12-step programs
Self-help 12-step programs are popular, and have helped many people achieve drug-free lives. Most are abstinence-based programs modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous. Unlike group therapy, 12-step meetings may not be guided by a professional counselor. The idea is that people who suffer from a similar problem understand and can help one another. By coming together to share experiences at regular meetings, people who are in recovery can help guide others out of addiction. Group therapy is another form of peer support.

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