Can addiction to opioid prescription painkillers or heroin really be treated?
Opioid dependence or addiction is a challenging and complex condition. The first step is to understand that you are addicted to opiates. Once you’re diagnosed, your opioid dependence or substance abuse problem can be treated in an inpatient addiction center, outpatient rehab, a methadone clinic, or in the privacy of a doctor’s office. The goal of any treatment for opioid dependence or addiction is to enable you to manage your disease and gain control of your addiction, so you can begin to focus on the things that are important to you. A treatment plan that addresses the three critical elements of dependence—the physical, psychological, and behavioral—is more likely to be successful in helping you reach your treatment goals. If you’re struggling with a painkiller addiction, you may be considering a combination of several options, including rapid detox, a drug rehabilitation clinic, a 12-step program, or counseling. The wide variety of treatment options available today means you can choo
