Opioid addiction treatment at Addictionology Center is buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), prescribed in person at our St. Louis clinic. We add comfort medications to ease withdrawal. You detox at home with your provider’s support. Your plan is built around your needs and goals.
Opioid misuse is a major problem in the United States. It has fed a fast-growing wave of opioid addiction. The damage is severe, and it can get worse each day. But there is hope. Proven opioid addiction treatment works. Two forms are opiate replacement therapy and medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. They help people beat addiction and take back their lives. At the Addictionology Center, our team guides you on the road to recovery. Our opioid treatment programs give you the support and tools you need to stay sober for the long term. Don’t wait. Take the first step toward a brighter, opioid-free future. Contact us today to learn more about our opioid treatment programs.
Statistics
Opioid prescribing began to rise in the early 1990s. Money drove it. It fed the brain’s built-in pull toward pleasure.
22-35% of “Misusers”
As per the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 22-35% of “misusers” of pain medication report receiving the drugs from their doctor.
Opioids
- How Do They Work?
- Do Opioids Always Cause Addiction?
- Who Is At Risk?
To understand opioid addiction, we must first understand opioids. Some opioids come from plants. These are called opiates. Others are man-made drugs for pain. They block pain signals by acting on the Central Nervous System (CNS). That is also how they cause addiction.
Addiction is fairly rare among people prescribed opioids. Among patients who take opioids for chronic pain, 1% to 8% become addicted. The real figure usually sits at the low end. That is especially true once you set aside people at higher risk. These are people with a history of substance abuse or a current mental illness.
People who misuse pills are rarely new to drugs. Look at the federal government’s 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. More than three-fourths of people who misused pills had also used benzodiazepines without a prescription, such as Valium or Xanax, or inhalants. A study of OxyContin users in treatment found that they “were not naive individuals with accidental addictions who were introduced to painkillers by their doctors as reported by the media; instead, they had extensive drug use histories.”
Types of Opioids
Codeine
Fentanyl
Hydromorphone
Meperidine
What We Offer
Suboxone is a brand-name medication commonly prescribed by clinicians to treat opioid use disorder.
Appointment
Schedule your appointment with our experts today!
What are the signs of opioid use disorder?
Opioid overuse causes certain physical and behavior changes over time, including
Physical Changes
Restricted pupils
Shallow breathing
Nausea, vomiting
Constipation
Continuous scratching
“Track marks” or scars from use of needles
Suddenly nodding off or losing consciousness
Drowsiness, lacking energy
What are the symptoms of opioid withdrawal?
Short-term opioid use does not cause any clear symptoms. But withdrawal can bring visible symptoms, such as:
Muscle Aches
Anxiety & Restlessness
Tears & Runny nose
Blurry vision
How is opioid addiction treated?
Opioid addiction hits millions of people in the United States. The good news is that with the right opioid addiction treatment, most people can beat it and take back their lives. Our goal at the Addictionology Center is full, personal care for everyone who needs it. Our team will build a plan with you around your needs and goals. You may need help with detox, talk therapy, or ongoing medicine. We have the tools and the skill to help. Don’t let opioid addiction run your life any longer. Take the first step. Contact us today to learn more about our programs. Our team is here for you. We give you the tools you need to get free and stay free. Invest in your future and choose opioid addiction treatment at the Addictionology Center.
Our Services
We offer a wide range of services to guide you through every step of recovery.
Our Programs
In-Person Treatment
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Dual Diagnosis
Outpatient
Suboxone
Our Therapies
Individual
Group
Behavioral
Solution Focused
Trauma EMDR
Why Get In Touch With Us?
Addictionology Center offers a uniquely designed In-Person Addiction Program, Behavioral Support & Medication Assistance. It covers you from every side. Many people who come to us fear they have only a slim chance at a better life. They do not believe the good things we describe can happen to them. Many think they are different from people who got well. They cannot picture life without booze or drugs. We have led these same people to places they never thought possible. Over time, they learned that every service has a purpose. They saw that their lives got much better when they worked with their team and stuck to the plan they helped build.
Accessible
You detox at home, in a familiar place and with your provider’s support, rather than in a facility. Your medical visits take place at our St. Louis clinic.
Convenient
Our St. Louis clinic offers appointment times that work around your job and your family.
Personalized
Our in-person program gives you a treatment plan built for your needs. It helps you get the best result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Methadone to Suboxone?
We can help you switch from Methadone to Suboxone, as long as you are on 40mg or less of Methadone. If you take more than that, we need to wait until your dose is under 40mg to start treatment. Switching from a high dose of Methadone to Suboxone is dangerous. The gap between the doses is too large. The side effects can be dangerous. Contact us when you are ready to make the switch!
What can I do to stop experiencing withdrawal symptoms from opioids?
Opioid withdrawal is no fun. But your provider can prescribe drugs to ease the symptoms. Clonidine helps with anxiety, irritability, muscle aches, sweating, and runny nose. Hydroxyzine (Atarax) can also help with anxiety and trouble sleeping. Tizanidine (Zanaflex) eases muscle spasms. Ondansetron (Zofran) eases nausea and vomiting. Loperamide (Imodium) helps stop diarrhea. Bentyl helps with gut (GI) symptoms, mostly belly cramps. Last, once you start the induction and stabilization phase with buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), your withdrawal will ease a great deal.
Could the drugs I take for treatment cause me to develop an addiction?
The drugs used for opioid addiction treatment include Methadone and Buprenorphine. They act on the brain much like other opioids. But taking them at the prescribed dose can lower the risk of addiction.
How long will the opioid addiction treatment take?
This is not a quick fix. It depends on how long you have used opioids and how much you use. How well you respond to treatment also makes a big difference. So it is hard to predict ahead of time, and it varies from patient to patient. Recovery takes time. We will be here to help you through every step, no matter how long it takes! The good news: Suboxone curbs your cravings and won’t leave you feeling foggy. You can function very well on it. In short, the process will likely be long, but worth it.
What does medication-assisted treatment (MAT) involve?
The term “medication-assisted treatment” means using medicine along with counseling and other support to treat opioid addiction. Three main drugs treat opioid addiction: Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
How hard is it to get prescribed Suboxone?
The path at Addictionology Center is direct. You ask for a visit. Your provider sees you in person at our St. Louis clinic. Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is prescribed in person, along with comfort drugs that ease withdrawal. Then you detox at home with your provider’s support. Your plan fits your needs and goals.
Do opioids always cause addiction?
No. Addiction is fairly rare among people prescribed opioids. Among patients who take opioids for chronic pain, 1% to 8% become addicted. The figure runs toward the low end once you set aside high-risk people. These are people with a history of substance abuse or a current mental illness. People who misuse pain pills are rarely new to drugs.
Can I detox from opioids at home?
Yes. In our program you detox at home, in a familiar place, with your provider’s support. You do not stay in a facility. Your medical visits take place in person at our St. Louis clinic. There, Suboxone is prescribed along with comfort drugs. These ease withdrawal signs such as muscle aches, anxiety, restlessness and a runny nose.
Sources
- Mattick RP, Breen C, Kimber J, Davoli M. Buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo or methadone maintenance for opioid dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;2014(2):CD002207. PMID 24500948 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD002207.pub4.
- Sordo L, Barrio G, Bravo MJ, et al. Mortality risk during and after opioid substitution treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ. 2017;357:j1550. PMID 28446428 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.j1550.
- Kosten TR, Baxter LE. Review article: Effective management of opioid withdrawal symptoms: a gateway to opioid dependence treatment. Am J Addict. 2019;28(2):55-62. PMID 30701615 · DOI 10.1111/ajad.12862.