As one of the nation’s leading providers of substance use disorder treatments, we’re dedicated to educating patients, families, and medical providers alike. Explore our latest insights to learn more about opioid addiction treatment.
Opioids are a class of medication used primarily to relieve pain. They have a variety of legitimate medical applications and are widely prescribed as a treatment in the United States. But there are also many different types of medications within the class of opioids that have varying degrees of side effects on a patient. These […]
While any length of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) often yields significant benefits, prior analyses of Community Medical Services SDOH (social determinants of health) data have shown that patients who undergo treatment for a longer period see significantly larger improvements. After compiling SDOH data for nearly two years, we can more accurately analyze the […]
It’s not news to people at this point that we have a major opioid crisis in the United States. Millions of Americans have become addicted to opioids in various forms, causing thousands of deaths from overdoses every year, putting a large strain on our healthcare system, and shattering families with the debilitating symptoms of drug […]
If you are pregnant and worried about opioid use, withdrawal, or whether treatment could affect your baby, you are not alone. Opioid use disorder is a medical condition, and getting treatment during pregnancy is one of the most protective steps you can take for yourself and your baby. Opioid Use Disorder Can Impact the Health […]
Addiction is extremely powerful. The opioid addiction epidemic has been sweeping our nation for years now, and throughout the epidemic of opioid addiction, medical experts have banded together to find better ways to treat patients. Methadone has long been a tried-and-true staple in the substance abuse doctor’s trusty toolkit. But how does it work? In […]
For years, Community Medical Services has encountered a common problem at all of our clinics: The required starting dose of methadone (30 mg) to treat opioid withdrawal just isn’t enough for many patients. Methadone is a powerful part of medication-assisted treatment programs (MATs). It blocks receptors in the brain that opioids typically latch onto, easing […]
For those struggling with opioid addictions, the most challenging part of treatment is dealing with withdrawal symptoms. The process of readjusting the body to life without opioids can be almost unbearable for some. Luckily, there’s a way to minimize withdrawal symptoms while eliminating cravings. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the process of giving patients FDA-approved medications […]
The opioid crisis has emerged as one of the United States’ most pressing healthcare challenges. Every person with an opioid addiction has a story about getting where they are. All these people have one thing in common – they never expected to become an addict. For many, opioid addiction is sudden. Sure, you are aware […]
The Harsh Reality of Opioid Addiction Last year, over 50,000 people died in the United States because of overdosing on opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. If you have opioid use disorder, there is a 4% chance that you will die within a year. If left untreated, you have a 40% chance of not making it […]
CMS advises community on what to watch for and how to respond. Fentanyl use is on the rise, and it’s now being mixed with xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer. While fentanyl alone continues to be the cause of fatal overdoses at an alarming rate, there’s been an even greater surge in overdose deaths recently, causing […]
How CMS is Moving the Needle in the Community The program launched in the fall of 2022 and provides inmates medication assisted treatment (MAT) combined with counseling and behavioral therapy for those suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs). The program is strictly voluntary but has had a significant impact after just a few months, according to […]
“Take even a small amount of fentanyl and you could die.” It’s a harsh message, but one that John Koch, director of community engagement at Community Medical Services (CMS), is determined to get out in the community as deaths from fentanyl use continue to climb around the U.S. “All of a sudden, what used to be a […]
