Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs
According to the CDC, opioid overdoses were involved in 68,630 deaths in 2020. Opioid misuse has been an increasingly important issue in recent years, and there are many health conditions associated with it. The opioid addiction treatment centers that Community Medical Services operate offer several medication options for those who struggle with opioids. With these medications, individuals with an addiction to opioids can learn long-term coping skills and eliminate withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Opioid Treatment Programs: Medication Options
Community Medical Services provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals with opioid or substance use disorders. MAT uses a holistic approach to treat the “whole patient.” This is done with the use of FDA-approved medications, individual counseling, and behavioral therapy. Medication helps to alleviate withdrawal and cravings, allowing the patient to focus on mental health issues and positive behavior changes.
There are 3 FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder treatment: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. MAT tries to find the lowest possible dose of a medication that will relieve withdrawal symptoms for 24 hours. The medications used in MAT are administered at a stable dose. They do not have any adverse effects on an individual’s ability to live a healthy life.
Methadone
- Long-lasting, allows for daily dosing.
- Is a more affordable medication option.
- Alleviates withdrawal symptoms, prevents cravings, and blocks the euphoric effect of other opioids.
- No abstinence from opioids is required before starting treatment.
- Synthetic opioid that attaches to the opioid receptor in the brain.
- Full agonist that fully activates the opioid receptor.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone®/Subutex®/Sublocade™)
- Long-lasting, allows for daily dosing.
- Good control of cravings and withdrawal.
- Alleviates withdrawal symptoms, prevents cravings, and blocks the euphoric effect of other opioids.
- Synthetic opioid that attaches to the opioid receptor in the brain.
- Partial agonist that activates some of the opioid receptors.
Naltrexone (Vivitrol®)
- Long-lasting injectable medication that is administered every 28 days.
- Requires 7-10 withdrawals of all opioid medications.
- Not recommended for pregnant women.
- Will not alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
- Antagonist that blocks all effects of the opioid receptor.
Choosing the right medication for you and your lifestyle is a decision made by you in collaboration with your medical provider
Pregnancy and Women’s Health Treatment
At CMS, we recognize the unique healthcare needs of our pregnant clients. This is where methadone or buprenorphine, along with evidence-based behavioral therapies works. It’s recommended by SAMHSA as the standard of care to treat opioid addictions in pregnant women. CMS coordinates with OBGYN and other medical providers to ensure the highest quality of care.
Pregnancy & MAT
CMS offers a variety of services to help women who are pregnant. Our goal is to empower our patients as the leader in their recovery, with benefits to both the mother and the baby. Methadone is considered the gold standard of care by the WHO and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
For most women with opioid use disorder (OUD), experts agree that the benefits of medications for OUD outweigh the potential risks. These medications are not harmful to the developing baby, and mothers are encouraged to continue with MAT throughout their pregnancy.
Benefits of MAT During Pregnancy
- Improves nutrition for the mother, which increases the baby’s birth weight. Women receiving MAT tend to have larger and healthier babies. They are more likely to reach full-term deliveries than women receiving no treatment for their OUD.
- Enhances a woman’s ability to prepare for birth.
- Reduces the risk of preterm birth and complications.
- Improves prenatal care and other rehabilitative efforts.
- Prevents fluctuations of the mother’s drug level that may occur, minimizing the risk of withdrawals for the baby in utero.
- Reduces illicit drug use and helps to remove opioid-dependent women from the drug-seeking environment.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Babies are not born “addicted” to opioids or any other substance. However, they may experience fussiness, poor feeding, poor sleeping, and jitteriness – this is called neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
Not all babies have symptoms. CMS offers a variety of resources to help educate new moms on helping their babies if they show signs of NAS. The risk of the baby having significant NAS symptoms is NOT related to the mother’s dose of medication.
For most women, it is recommended to continue MAT during pregnancy. Remaining on OUD medications is generally the safest choice for BOTH the mother and baby.
Stopping MAT during pregnancy may put the mother and baby at risk. Tapering off MAT during pregnancy should be avoided if possible. Stopping opioids immediately may not be safe, particularly during pregnancy, due to the additional risk to the developing baby. If you do decide to taper from MAT during pregnancy, you should only do so after consultation with medical professionals.
Peer Support Treatment
Peer Support Specialists at CMS are individuals with lived experience. They can understand the challenges of substance use and recovery. They bring their unique perspective for overcoming challenges and navigating the treatment system.
CMS has integrated peer support at many of our clinics and done so effectively into a variety of aspects of our treatment services, including:
- Correctional health.
- Hospital in-reach.
- Support groups.
- Community outreach and education.
- Pregnancy support and groups.
- Community partnership with local emergency medical services teams.
Counseling Treatment
We provide both individual and group counseling services to our patients. Using evidence-based practices, counselors help clients to develop healthy coping strategies, individualized to their needs. Together, clients and counselors work on problem solving skills to address substance use.
Correctional Health Treatment
At CMS we believe that all people, regardless of incarceration status, deserve fair and equitable healthcare. Incarcerated individuals are at a greater risk of struggling with substance use. Approximately 68% of people incarcerated meet the medical criteria for drug dependence.
Moreover, studies indicate that 80 – 90% of individuals relapse within 30 days of release. To address this disparity, CMS collaborates with correctional health facilities in several states to ensure all individuals have access to quality substance use treatment.
In 2010, CMS began supporting pregnant inmates with medication-assisted opioid addiction treatment programs in Maricopa County Jail and Arizona’s Perryville State Prison. Since then, Community Medical Services has expanded to treat incarcerated populations in several states.
We continue to develop opioid addiction treatment programs across the country. Each program is tailored to the unique needs of the specific city, county, and state. Programs can include the following:
- Screening for OUD.
- In-reach peer support services and education.
- Pregnancy support services and education.
- Coordination of care with other community providers.
- Medication delivery and counseling services.
- Telehealth services.
If you are interested in discussing a potential collaboration with your agency or organization, contact: info@cmsgiveshope.com.
