Addiction is more than just the illicit drugs a person is using, as it often spirals into something much more all-encompassing – a vicious cycle that can hijack a person’s everyday behaviors, and choices and replaces them with unhealthy and unsafe habits. Unfortunately, there are people who do not understand or accept that addiction can leave people powerless even when they want to get better – and often these are the same people that believe a person’s sheer willpower to “stop doing drugs” is all they need to be sober. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), more recently referred to as Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUDs) are a game changer for millions of people in recovery from substance use.
Often, the same people that believe this notion also feel as though medications for addiction treatment such as Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) are just “trading one drug for another”.
This notion is antiquated, stigmatizing, and only serves to hurt people who are in recovery.
What Makes Medication Assisted Treatment a Game Changer?
Suboxone works by binding tightly to opioid receptors, partially activating them to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Its strong binding ability also blocks the effects of other opioids if taken, preventing or limiting their impact. Similar results can be achieved with other medications like Vivitrol, Bunavail, and Subsolv. Suboxone does more than just address the physical and chemical urges. It helps diminish the compulsive behaviors, loss of control, constant cravings, and other hallmarks of addiction.
Trading a Drug for A Life
Someone in recovery who is taking medication for addiction treatment has essentially traded a life threatening and often fatal situation for the daily task of needing to take a legally prescribed medication. Basically, as some would a vitamin for their daily health, one would take suboxone.
Physical dependence might still be present but the overall quality of life is what recovery is about. Trading despair for hope and trading self-shame for forgiveness and understanding. It is helpful to understand that the physical dependence pre-existed the medication and was not caused by it.
Understanding Physical Tolerance and Dependence
Understanding the difference between addiction and physical tolerance or dependence goes a long way in explaining this concept. It is important to note that The American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Pain Society, American Society of Addiction Medicine, all recognize that addiction is a disease. A disease that is damaging and requires treatment, whereas physical dependence and tolerance is normal physiology.
Dr. Harithsa Asuri, a medical practitioner at our Ashtabula, Ohio, office says:
“If you’re suffering from diabetes you’re going to take medication to help you with your diabetes, if you suffer from hypertension you’re going to take medication to help you with that as well – just like when it comes to substance use disorder there are medicines available that are life saving that could be beneficial for you, so it would be beneficial for you to take those medications.”
What Can I Do Now?
The professionals at BrightView are educated and experienced providers of opioid treatment. We treat you like a person and we treat addiction as a disease. To learn more about how we can help you, call us today at 888.501.9865 or connect with us online to learn more about our services and take the first step towards a healthier, brighter future.
