Methadone rehab treatment: What to expect?

The specific steps of methadone rehab process vary according to the person and the treatment plan being used. However, most addiction rehabs provide: detox, medication therapy, psychological treatment and aftercare services. Find out more about what each of these services includes.

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Overcome Your Methadone Addiction And Change Your Life With Medical Treatment

There are different ways to beat methadone addiction. Some people choose to go “cold turkey”, some prefer outpatient rehab, and others choose a safer route, checking into an inpatient rehab program. Inpatient methadone rehabs offer many benefits that with no doubt will help you overcome your addiction problem. Rehabs are equipped with all the necessary tools to help you reach and maintain sobriety. The benefits of an inpatient methadone rehab occur on every level of treatment such as: physical, emotional, and psychological.

If you’re wondering what happens during rehab…we’ve got it covered. Read on for more, and then we invite your questions in the comments section at the end.
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How Is Methadone Rehab Treatment Structured?

Methadone is a synthetic opioid that is prescribed by doctors to treat severe chronic pain and addiction to other opiates, such as heroin. Unlike other opiates, methadone does not produce a high, but it is addictive. If you or a loved one is suffering with an addiction to this drug, you probably want to know what to expect during methadone rehab treatment.

Do you need help methadone addiction? Inpatient and outpatient methadone rehab treatment are the two most common options to choose from. While these two types are quite different, they both use many of the same methods and offer many of the same services.

Screening and assessment

An initial drug screening is necessary before entering rehab in order to diagnose an addiction, and an assessment is used to help create an individualized treatment plan.

Medical detox

To help lower the chances of relapse and prevent serious health complications, people in recovery for methadone addiction are often encouraged to enter medical detox, a process that puts people under constant supervision of medical professionals during withdrawal.

Medicines

While there are no medications approved to treat methadone addiction, you will usually be weaned off of methadone before you begin treatment.

Psychological treatments

A combination of individual behavior therapy, group therapy, and family therapy is typically used during methadone rehab treatment.

Education sessions

Educating people in recovery about addiction helps them better understand their disease and gives them the skills they need to overcome it.

Supportive services

People need a great deal of support in order to successfully recover. Treatment facilities will often help people in recovery find the support they need.

What To Expect After Methadone Rehab Treatment?

If you don’t know what to expect after methadone rehab treatment, you aren’t alone. Many people feel very intimidated and even scared to leave treatment. These fears are understandable, but they can be alleviate a bit with the help and support of an addiction specialist.

Upon completing methadone rehab, an addiction specialist will often help you create an exit plan. This is a written document that outlines some of the goals you wish to achieve during recovery. Exit plans can give you something to work toward and help you develop a better idea of what to expect after methadone rehab treatment.

Many people in recovery will also continue to attend outpatient therapy sessions. These therapy sessions may last anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. Family therapy after methadone rehab treatment is also usually recommended as is attendance at self-help group therapy sessions.

Rehab Visiting Guidelines For Friends And Families

After settling into a treatment facility, you may be able to have visitors. Loved ones, though, should have some idea of what to expect when visiting someone in methadone rehab treatment.

Before visiting someone in methadone rehab treatment, you should contact the specific facility that your loved one is in. The facility will be able to tell you what days you can visit your loved one as well as how long visitations last. Most visitations only last a short time, but some facilities allow longer visits. During your visit, you may also be asked to limit or avoid physical contact with your loved one.

Family therapy and education sessions are also offered by most addiction treatment facilities. Participating in family therapy with your loved one can help you reconnect, work through your problems, and start rebuilding your relationships. The education sessions can help you learn more about addiction in general and how to help and support your loved one during their recovery.

Leaving Rehab Without Completing The Whole Program: What Are The Risks?

As with any other type of addiction treatment, methadone rehab treatment is completely voluntary. You will not be forced to stay, and you can leave methadone rehab treatment before completion. However, leaving methadone rehab treatment early, against medical advice, is strongly discouraged.

One of the biggest risks of leaving methadone rehab treatment before completion is relapse. People who leave treatment early may think that they are ready or “cured”. Unfortunately, this isn’t usually the case. They will often find themselves unable to stay away from drugs, since they have not gained the resources and tools needed to stay away from them. This can not only put them at risk of becoming addicted yet again, but also puts them at a higher risk of overdosing on methadone.

Although it’s the biggest disadvantage of leaving methadone rehab treatment early, the high likelihood of relapse is not the only reason you should strongly consider completing treatment. Quitting treatment early can have drastic consequences on other areas of your life and cause or exacerbate some of the following problems.

  • Financial problems
  • Health problems
  • Relationship problems
  • Legal issues
  • Self-esteem problems

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Stop replacing one addiction with another.
Brake the chains of methadone addiction for good.
Dial 1-877-832-5589.
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Methadone Rehab Treatment Expectations

Taking those first steps toward recovery are essential for anyone looking to overcome a methadone addiction. Unfortunately, those first steps are often the hardest. Knowing what to expect and understanding methadone rehab treatment expectations, though, can make taking these initial steps a little easier. Hopefully, we’ve helped paint a picture of methadone rehab treatment in this article. If you still have any questions or concerns, though, feel free to leave a comment below.

Reference Sources: Justice: Methadone Fast Facts
SAMHSA: Methadone
NIH: Is the use of medications like methadone and buprenorphine simply replacing one addiction with another?
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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