An addict’s acknowledgment of the need for help is a major first step in a path towards recovery. Knowing which treatment method to pursue can be just as influential of a decision in the process of overcoming addiction. The withdrawal effects of substances vary, and the severity and duration of detox is often the deciding factor in one’s recovery route.

Health Day News recently reported that extended therapy combined with detox medications have shown to produce noticeable results for opioid addiction in young adults. Detox medications buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naloxone relieve withdrawal symptoms and prevent the physical effects of injected opioids, and have proven more successful in treating addiction when administered over an extended period as compared to short-term treatment programs. The study compared 12 week and  2 week-long treatment programs with the defined drugs, and found that extended treatment patients reported less use of opioids, cocaine and marijuana, less injecting, and less need for additional addiction treatment after 12 weeks. The researchers also found that patients in the long-term program tested positive for opioid use in urine tests more times in weeks four and eight, than at week 12.

This information demonstrates the benefits of prolonged use of detox medications in transforming deep-rooted lifestyle habits. Medication coupled with continuous counseling aids addicts in reaching their long-term goals. Although the administration of such detox medications is controversial due to the risk of dependence, this report reinstates the necessity of viewing addiction recovery as a lifelong process that can’t be wiped clean of the body instantaneously. When considering treatment methods, addicts shouldn’t follow a method that they consider a quick fix; rather, look at treatment as an ever-evolving self-healing process that requires patience and constant care.

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