Medication for Opiate Addiction

Mood Disorders Heroin Opiate Abuse

Mood Disorders Associated with Heroin/Opiate Abuse

Heroin is a highly addictive opiate. While the rate of heroin use dropped for several decades, it is now on the rise once again. This is because itcan easily be substituted for OxyContin, which is becoming less readily available as prescription drug laws become more strict.

There are several modes of heroin and opiate ingestion. Government reports indicate that the purity of heroin on the streets has greatly improved while cost has decreased. The higher purity of the drug allows it to be more easily smoked and snorted.

According to a Melbourne, Australia study, suicide and heroin overdose are closely associated with mental health disorders. Individuals participating in this study reported high rates of hopelessness, depression, antisocial behavior and self-harm.

Medication Treatment for Heroin/Opiate Addiction

Medication options are available for dealing with mental health disorders and heroin or other opiate addiction. The appropriate dual diagnosis treatment program in a drug rehab facility can help break the addiction and manage the mental health disorder without placing you on methadone.

• Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone)
  Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone that reduces withdrawal symptoms from opiate dependence.

• Subutex (buprenorphine)
  Subutex is buprenorphine that is delivered sublingually. The active ingredient reduces withdrawal symptoms, cravings and is much easier to stop using because of its long half-life.

• Naltrexone
  Naltrexone takes the reward of getting high away from an opiate dependent individual. It blocks the opioids from acting on the brain so the user feels no effect from the drug. It is alsoused to help stop cravings.

• Levo-alpha acetyl methadol (LAAM)
  Levo-alpha acetyl methadol, also called LAAM, is an opiate agonist that helps reduce the cravings for opioids.

• Naloxone
  Naloxone is an opioid antagonist and it does not have the morphine-like properties characteristic of other opioid antagonists.

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• Drug Rehab Programs
  A quality drug rehab can help you get to the underlying reasons for your addiction. Combating addiction requires treating the whole person and a quality drug rehab can provide you with the needed tools.

  Drug Detox Centers
  Everyone who wants to stop active drug addiction must go through drug detox first. Drug detox can be painful and dangerous and should always be followed by treatment.

  Opiate Addiction Treatment and Withdrawal
  Opiates, derived from the opium plant, are highly addictive. They are also accompanied by severe withdrawal symptoms, but recovery and abstinence are possible.

  Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers