Treatment for Morphine Addiction
Opioid addiction can be extremely hard to overcome without a professional treatment program. Effective medications are available to help treat opioid use disorders and are beneficial when combined with behavioral therapy and individualized treatment plans for a whole-person approach.
Morphine Detox Program
Morphine withdrawal can be life-threatening and stems from dependence. When a person is dependent and suddenly stops or reduces their opioid use, they may go through withdrawal. A medical detox program provides necessary medical interventions as someone goes through morphine withdrawal. During medical detox, patients are under the care of medical professionals who help with safety and comfort. There’s a sense of structure to help patients navigate difficult situations and 24-hour support.
Symptoms of opioid withdrawal can include:
- Drug cravings
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Abdominal pain
- Insomnia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Tremors
- Chills
Opioid withdrawal symptoms can last three to five days for most people and up to ten. Trying to quit cold turkey can be dangerous and lead to stronger cravings and a greater risk of relapse. The best way to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms is through medically-supervised detox. Medications that can help with morphine withdrawal symptoms include methadone and buprenorphine. These medicines can also be part of a long-term maintenance plan for opioid dependence. Clonidine doesn’t reduce cravings for morphine but can also help withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, agitation and muscle aches. Medicines for vomiting, diarrhea and insomnia may also be prescribed.
Inpatient Treatment
At The Recovery Village at Baptist Health, aside from medical detox, inpatient treatment is the most intensive level of care, with full-day programming. Patients live onsite in a residential setting during inpatient treatment. Every treatment plan is created for the individual, but inpatient treatment at The Recovery Village at Baptist Health may include:
- Access to 24-hour nursing and medical care
- Regular physician visits
- Counseling and psychiatric care
- Individual and group therapy
- Nutritional support
- Recreational treatment, such as yoga, exercise and art therapy
For many people, inpatient rehab occurs after completing medical detox. Then, once someone completes inpatient treatment, they might participate in a less restrictive step-down program, such as partial hospitalization or outpatient rehab. During residential care, the goal is to help someone learn how to live without drugs or alcohol and begin to build the skills for a healthy lifestyle.
Outpatient Treatment
When someone is physically and mentally stable and ready for a sense of accountability for their treatment and recovery, they might participate in outpatient rehab. An outpatient program can include:
- Medical services, including medication management
- Individual and group therapy
- Treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions
- Relapse prevention
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Addiction often occurs with other mental health conditions. When someone has a co-existing substance use disorder and a mental health disorder, it’s a dual diagnosis. Each condition will affect the other, and complex treatment is required. At The Recovery Village at Baptist Health, we diagnose and treat co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis treatment helps reduce the risk of relapse, which is much greater if someone’s underlying mental health disorder isn’t well-treated.
