Addiction research has made great strides in learning more about the fundamental nature of drug use disorder, from the first surge of heroin abuse in the late 1960s and 1970s to the most recent pandemic that has lasted more than two decades. Despite the abundant scientific evidence, many people still fail to recognize addiction as a chronic illness and are uninformed about medication-assisted therapy (MAT), the most efficient method of aiding those impacted by the opioid crisis. People frequently have misconceptions about how MAT drugs work in opioid addiction treatment in Indiana since they include opioids. It’s crucial to remember that there are many kinds of opioids, particularly those utilized in addiction treatment.
- Opioid Adversaries: A synthetic opioid antagonist, methadone, is the most well-known and widely utilized medication for opioid use syndrome. Ultimately activating opioid sensors in the brain, which are also activated by addictive drugs like heroin, morphine, and other opioid painkillers, aid in the relief of the highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Although the drug ultimately activates the receptors, it remains in the patient’s body for much longer than most illegal or prescribed opioids. A single dosage can last up to 24 hours when used therapeutically since it reduces withdrawal symptoms without exhilaration. As a result, a person can take methadone once daily rather than turning to other opioids more often since the benefits don’t last long enough and withdrawal symptoms set in.
- Partial Adversaries: Being a partial opioid analgesic, buprenorphine attaches to opioid receptors but only partially activates them when compared to full agonists. The “ceiling effect” of buprenorphine and related substances restricts how “high” they may make a person feel. Beyond a certain point, adding more medication or upping the dose has no further impact. Additionally, lowering side effects and overdosing danger is this ceiling effect. It is still beneficial in substance abuse treatment in Michigan City at prescribed levels by easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings. At the height of the opioid crisis in the early 2000s, buprenorphine was among the first drugs authorized by the FDA.
- Anti-opioid Drugs: Since naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, it blocks opioid receptors instead of activating them, prohibiting any opioids consumed from doing so and producing a high. To avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, a patient must be completely free of any opioids, whether taken legally or for medical purposes. Naltrexone should be taken together with therapy or other recovery assistance because it does not reduce cravings or ease withdrawal symptoms.
Each patient will require a particular type of MAT. Individuals must be aware that the inclusion of opioids in these therapies is deliberate, supported by research, and designed to increase the likelihood that patients will benefit from long-term re-counselling and support as well as a complete plan for a positive future free from addiction.