Addiction to opioids is a nationwide crisis that claims the lives of 128 people each and every day. Of all the drug overdoses each year, a large majority of them are due to misuse of opioids, such as pain relievers, fentanyl, and heroin.
At Affordable & Restorative Health in Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. Winston Griner understands the physical and emotional toll that opioid addiction can take on you or your loved one. With more than 15 years of experience and success in helping people break the chains of addiction, he has the expertise necessary to guide you through recovery.
Here’s why using Suboxone® therapy to treat addiction is your best chance for a successful outcome.
Understanding the opioid epidemic
In the 1990s, doctors were encouraged to prescribe opioid pain relievers when pharmaceutical companies insisted that they would not be addictive.
An increase in prescriptions paralleled a rise in patient misuse as it became evident that these drugs are extremely addictive. As overdose rates skyrocketed, an epidemic was born.
Today, more than 1.5 million Americans struggle with an addiction to opioids.
Symptoms of opioid addiction and withdrawal
The signs of addiction to opioids include:
- Strong cravings for opioids
- Decreased emphasis on hygiene
- Insomnia
- Sudden financial problems
- Detaching from friends and family
- Rapid weight loss
- Stealing
- Repetitive flu-like symptoms
When you remove the dependency on opioids, you can experience tremendous withdrawal symptoms, such as incessant shaking, vomiting, terrible body pain, and diarrhea. Withdrawal is so excruciating that many people return to addiction.
How Suboxone helps break the cycle of addiction
Addiction programs like we offer here at Affordable & Restorative Health that use Suboxone increase your chances of successfully breaking the strongholds of addiction.
Suboxone is a blend of two important medications: naloxone and buprenorphine. The first, naloxone, blocks your natural desire to abuse the medication. The second, buprenorphine, interferes with your brain’s opiate receptors in order to diminish your cravings and make your withdrawal bearable.
Research done by the National Institutes of Health outlines how Suboxone therapy significantly improves addiction outcomes. By using the medication under a doctor’s supervision, you’re able to slow down and endure withdrawal without running back to opioids.
In addition to Suboxone treatment, your care plan includes counseling, accountability, and other tools to secure your recovery. Call 615-903-2401 today to get the help you need to break free from dangerous opioid addiction in order to rebuild your life. You can also request an appointment online.
