Opiate Treatment in Connecticut

At Waterstone Addiction & Recovery, a leading outpatient addiction treatment practice in Connecticut, we diagnose and treat a wide range of substance use disorders, including opiate addiction.

Learn more about our opiate treatments below, or schedule an appointment to begin your recovery journey and live better today.

What Are Opiates?

Opiates, both illegal or prescription drugs, are a class of drug that stems from opium which is derived from the poppy plant. Opiates are primarily used to treat cases of pain, but are also frequently misused due to their calming and narcotic properties. Any opiate use will eventually lead to physical dependence, sometimes classified as an opiate addiction. Unfortunately, everyone is at risk for addiction. Using opiates comes along with a myriad of health risks ultimately making independence unattainable.

As discussed earlier, the abuse of opiates stems from the fact that the central nervous system is altered in a way where pain is not only blocked, but there is also an increased level of pleasure that is felt. Therefore, those prescribed opiates will find themselves at an increased risk for developing an addiction. If you or a loved one is suffering from opiate abuse, feel free to reach out to North Jersey Recovery Center (NJRC) and let us guide you through the recovery process.

The Difference Between Opiates and Opioids

People often confuse the terms “opiates” and “opioids,” but the two are quite different. Opiates are natural substances such as opium or heroin, whereas opioids include both opiates and synthetic or partially synthetic drugs like pain medications. In essence, while all opiates are captured under the umbrella term of opioids, the reverse is not entirely true.

The misuse of opiates and synthetic opioids affects millions across the globe every year, and it’s a crisis that keeps getting worse. In Connecticut, the abuse of opiates ranks among the top drugs misused, and opioid overdoses are the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the state. It is vital to go to an addiction treatment center before it is too late to avoid overdose.

How Opiate Addiction Can Happen

A sizable number of people who become addicted to an opiate or an opioid pain reliever took it to manage pain because it was prescribed by a healthcare provider. However, after some time, the pain relief that was provided may not be sufficient. This is often because many people start developing a level of tolerance to the drug.

With escalating the dosage tolerance, a greater amount of the medication might be necessary to achieve the original effect. Unfortunately, this results in physical dependence on the opiates or opioids. The dependence on the opioid is associated with compulsive drug use and withdrawal symptoms when the user tries to cut down or stop using the drug.

Opioid dependence may be serious in its health consequences, but it is not necessarily an addiction. Dependence is physical, on the other hand, addiction is psychological. Nevertheless, people suffering from opioid dependence do tend to cross the line into full addiction. In such instances, one does have to seek out treatment for opiate addiction to resolve the issue.

When You Need Treatment

Both lifestyle and biological reasons are responsible for opioid or opiate addiction, according to scientists. The body has what is called an endogenous opioid system, which works as a natural painkiller and is helpful in moderating and rewarding behaviors.

Painkillers that are prescribed or heroin that is an illicit substance are examples of exogenous opioids. They bind to the opioid receptors within the body and replace brain functions such as pleasure. Chemical processes that take place the end result of which is pleasure and narcotic effect. This also results in a feedback mechanism where the body stops making endogenous opioids because the body becomes reliant on the external source of drugs for pleasure.\

People slowly become more and more addicted to opioids and opiates so that they can feel pleasure and stave off withdrawal symptoms. This issue, which is known as opioid use disorder, is largely a result of escalating abuse of the drugs. Treatment at an addiction center is needed to care of this condition.

Waterstone’s Medication-Assisted Treatment Program

MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) blends pharmacological therapy and psychotherapeutic support to assist patients in managing withdrawal symptoms and overcoming addiction. The utilization of MAT is experiencing rapid growth because of its success as an intervention strategy.

While MAT is beneficial to both inpatient and outpatient clients, Waterstone specializes in providing outpatient MAT services that do not require staying overnight in any type of facility. The medications that are provided during MAT help in normalizing brain and body activity and reducing the cravings and pleasurable sensations produced by opiates and opioids. Patients are allowed to take these FDA-approved medications for months, years, or even eternally under the supervision of a physician. How the MAT modalities will be administrated is a personal choice of the individual and the healthcare practitioner, but there is no doubt that it will aid in recovery. Medications used by Waterstone include:

The specific approach to MAT is a personal decision between the individual and our prescribing practitioners, but it can undoubtedly be a valuable tool in the recovery process.

What Does Opiate Use Disorder (OUD) Recovery Look Like?

OUD changes how parts of the brain are connected to each other, and how the brain responds to the world around it. Even though dopamine and adrenaline sensitivity will return to normal in a couple months, rewiring the brain back to its original state can take years.The overall goal of treatment is to return people to productive functioning in their family, workplace, and community.

Schedule A Consultation

If you believe you may be suffering from Opiate Use Disorder, it is important to see a caregiver who specializes in addiction medicine in order to properly diagnose and treat your condition. Our outpatient program is managed by a board-certified addiction medicine physician that specializes in medication-assisted treatments and psychotherapy. Call 203-826-1163 today to schedule an appointment.