When I was abusing hydrocodone, it took up the majority of my thoughts. I worried about being without it and that drove me to spend a lot of time seeking it out and freaking out about running out. I knew that I had to get into opiate substance abuse treatment, but I wasn’t in the state of mind where I could think too much about treatment.

I didn’t do any research. I was nervous about asking people close to me to help with my decision making, so I jumped into opiate addiction treatment with no idea what would happen. I wish I had been more prepared because I lost a lot of time resisting the care I was offered.

I Was Thankful for Detox Assistance

Initially, I had to go through the detox portion of my opiate substance abuse treatment. My withdrawals were excruciating and although I knew from previous attempts to stop using that these symptoms could be bad, I had never been able to make it through this period without relapsing. It is a wonder that I was able to stay in the facility. I would have discharged myself, but the center did provide me with medication to ease the discomfort and that helped me get through it.

I Resisted Treatment

However, when I had to participate in treatment sessions, my gratitude disappeared and I was combative. I didn’t know I would have to do so much sharing and so much self-examination. It seemed pointless. I was totally sober, wasn’t that enough? I refused to participate fully in groups and I shut down completely in individual therapy sessions. It took at least a third of my treatment period for me to finally break through and accept what was happening.

I Should Have Been Open to Care

Had I researched programs, I would have been able to come to terms with what would happen in opiate addiction treatment before I was placed in that situation. I would have been more engaged, and I would have done it sooner. I missed out on a large chunk of my care because I resisted and proper research would have controlled that.

What Do You Know About Your Opiate Addiction Treatment Program? Ask Prospective Opiate Substance Abuse Treatment Centers These Questions

Now that you have decided you need to get into opiate substance abuse treatment, you are very close to receiving the emotional support and expertise needed to assist you in recovering from your opiate use disorder. But, how do you know which opiate addiction treatment facility will be the best option for you? This is why doing your research is so important. In addition to searching the web, make sure that your research includes calling you top rehab choices and getting constructive answers to your crucial questions. This will help you feel certain you have picked the best selection.

It’s not enough to let geographic location and cost be your only considerations. Ask about the following as well.

Accreditation and Licensing

You need to know that state licensing isn’t the same as accreditation. States will differ in their licensing requirements. However, national accreditation programs have consistent conditions that hinge upon the elements of treatment that have proved effective. Accreditation has high standards and it must be certified each year to maintain it. This means that you can trust a consistently high level of care form accredited opiate addiction treatment programs.

Patient-to-Therapist Ratio

To receive the best care, you will need individual attention and that isn’t possible when each counselor has a high number of people to attend to. Look for a opiate substance abuse treatment center with a ratio of one counselor per seven patients or less.

Therapeutic Approaches or Theories Held by the Program

Most centers have central models that they follow. These may include cognitive behavioral therapy, 12 steps, or motivation enhancement. It’s best that you find out the opiate addiction treatment center’s approaches and then research whether or not you think those would align with your needs and belief system.

Is Opiate Addiction Treatment Different for Men and Women? Gender Differences in Opiate Substance Abuse Treatment

The rate of substance abuse and dependence is lower for women, but a diagnosis is not gender specific. Women are really receptive to treatment and have been proven to do as well in follow-up as men.There are a number of gender difference related to substance use and these impact the way that opiate addiction treatment should be approached for these disparate groups.For this reason, many people choose to attend a gender specific program, where their care is narrowed to address them and their addictions. What follows are a number of ways that men and women’s addiction and opiate substance abuse treatment contrast.

How Does Female Substance Abuse Differ from Male Substance Abuse?

According to a paper in Psychiatric Clinics of North America, women:

• Begin using substances later in their lives than men
• Are powerfully influenced by boyfriends or spouses to use
• Express different reasons than men for continuing the use of substances
• Enter treatment earlier in their addiction than men
• Have a higher chance of a co-occurring psychiatric conditions, which usually predate the substance use
• Are more likely to use alcohol to and other substance to medicate mood instabilities

How Do These Differences Impact Opiate Addiction Treatment?

First of all, what are called the telescoping phenomenon (the gap for intervention between progressive milestones) is shorter for women. This means that treatment needs to be entered early in a woman’s substance abuse progression.

Also, women are very likely to have experienced physical and sexual violence before entering opiate substance abuse treatment center. This, coupled with the high rate of mental illness among women in treatment, means that these issues must be addressed as part of a treatment plan for a female patient.

Is Gender Specific Treatment Recommended?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment should “be appropriate to the individual’s age, gender, ethnicity, and culture.” The chances of getting the individualized care a person needs is higher when the patient pool is limited. When a rehab doesn’t have to deal with the problems of both men and women, they can narrow their focus and deliver more profound care. Visit our official site for more information.