Opioid Addiction in California

The United States has been experiencing an opioid epidemic for years now. This epidemic has led to hundreds of deaths by overdose, numerous hospitalizations due to overdose, and millions of individuals suffering from addiction across the nation. While some of these people seek treatment, recover, and amend their lives, many unfortunately don’t.

Several reasons may cause someone not to find treatment. The first is that they don’t recognize or deny their problem and decide not to seek treatment. Another reason they don’t find help could be due partly to past failed attempts because of an incompetent treatment program or substance abuse counselor. The third common explanation is that people may not know where to look. Thankfully, the stigmatization of addiction is slowly but surely dissipating. With this dissipation, more people are speaking up and speaking out on the severity of the opioid epidemic. With this shift of culture, more and more resources are being provided and are easier to access.

However, individuals need first to choose to look for those resources. Suppose you are in California and are unsure of where to turn. In that case, we encourage you to reach out to the Lakehouse Recovery Center, as our in-person and virtual treatment programs may help you to begin your path to recovery.

Opioid Addiction

One of the scariest things about opioids is that, in many instances, it’s the people we least expect to be struggling who are indeed struggling. Common signs of opioid addiction may include feeling restless, hyperactive behavior, lack of physical coordination and the ability to concentrate, poor judgment, slurred speech, and overall feelings of euphoria. While opioids can be illegal substances, they are often a medication that has been causally prescribed by a primary care physician or another kind of doctor.

The terms opioid and opiates are often used without an understanding of the difference between the two. Opiates are natural substances taken from a plant called the Asian poppy. Substances created from this plant include morphine, opium, and heroin. Some commonly prescribed opiates include hydrocodone, also known as Vicodin, morphine, and oxycodone. While all opiates are opioids, not all opioids are opiates, as there are many synthetic opioids that mimic the effects of opiates.

Another dangerous opioid that has taken a significant toll in recent years is fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic drug designed to emulate the effect of an opiate. Common opioids may include Vicodin, oxycontin, and methadone. Like any substance, when misused, these can be lethal, whether it may be a natural or synthetic substance.

The Challenges of Treating Opioid Addiction

It is not uncommon for medications such as these to be prescribed for a sports injury, recovery from surgery, or even treat chronic pain management. Becoming dependent in these circumstances is just as common as the situations themselves, which is why opioid addiction has increased at such a high rate. For those who are using opioids to manage chronic pain, another challenge presents itself when seeking treatment. You have to find now alternative methods of pain management, which can be a process of trial and error, but nonetheless worth it. Opioid use can lead to oversedation, nausea, and potentially death, which are just a few reasons to consider quitting use. Often, the fear of pain or inability to tolerate the pain makes opioid recovery so challenging.

Aside from these challenges, opioid treatment is very much possible. These treatments may include working with our medical staff to learn alternative methods for other medical conditions. Psychological therapy helps to better manage our levels of stress, bad habits, and practical coping skills while also unearthing psychological disorders that may be causing issues under the surface. While maintaining treatment requires life-changing decisions, finding an appropriate addiction treatment program is the first step. The Lakehouse Recovery Center can help to treat your addiction to methadone, oxycontin, Vicodin, or Lortab, but we also encourage you to seek a treatment program best for you.

California Resources for Opioid Addiction

If the Lakehouse Recovery Center is not a geographically desirable facility for you, you may continue to consider our online and virtual programs. If you are searching for an in-person treatment program, you can begin by looking for credible and respected facilities in your area. California has made many efforts to reduce the epidemic throughout the state. According to the California Department of Public Health, some of these efforts have included:

• Changing policies and public payer healthcare systems
• Mandating the use of CURES, the precipitin drug monitoring program
• Expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services
• Enacting a naloxone distribution program and increasing access to naloxone
• Supporting local opioid safety coalitions and continuing to educate the general public on the harm of opioid use

Approaches such as these could potentially help to decrease the rate of the opioid epidemic across the nation. If you or someone you love is currently suffering from opioid addiction, we encourage you to seek help today.

The opioid epidemic has been ravaging the nation for decades. Despite efforts such as those implemented by the state of California, including education programs, increased access to naloxone, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services, it seems the numbers are continually rising or remaining at very high levels. Opioid addiction presents a genuine danger in that it is one of the most common addictions and affects such a broad and diverse group of people. Life events as simple and common as a sports injury, surgery recovery, and managing chronic pain can lead to opioid dependency. If you or someone you love is suffering from opioid addiction, we encourage you to reach out to the Lakehouse Recovery Center at (877) 762-3707 today. With the combination of our medical staff and trained professionals, be it through our in-person or virtual treatment programs, we can help you find the necessary resources to begin your path to recovery today.