Kansas Opioid Use Disorder Treatment & Recovery

Understanding Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious medical condition involving misuse of prescription opioids or illicit opioids like heroin or fentanyl. Opioids are highly addictive because they affect the brain’s reward system, creating strong cravings and physical dependence.

The opioid crisis is real, but so is recovery. Medication-assisted treatment with medications like suboxone is evidence-based, highly effective, and allows people to stabilize, regain their lives, and eventually taper off treatment.You don’t have to struggle with opioid addiction alone. Help is available, and recovery is possible.

Signs of Opioid Use Disorder

You might be abusing opioids if:

  • You use opioids more often or in larger amounts than intended.
  • You’ve tried to cut down but can’t.
  • Opioid use takes up a lot of your time.
  • You crave opioids.
  • Opioid use causes problems at work, school, or home, but you continue to take them.
  • You’ve given up important activities because of opioid use.
  • You continue to use, despite knowing it’s causing harm.
  • You’ve developed tolerance and need to take more for the same effect.
  • You experience withdrawal when not using it. Symptoms of withdrawal can include pain, body aches, sweating, anxiety, or insomnia.
  • You’ve had overdose experiences.
  • You inject opioids or engage in risky behaviors to use them.

Getting an Opioid Use Disorder Diagnosis in Kansas

To get started, Montana will discuss your opioid use history, including what you use, how often you’ve been using and for how long, and how it has affected your health and life. He’ll ask about previous treatment attempts, overdoses, and withdrawal symptoms.

This information can help determine whether you may need medical detoxification, a process that can help you manage uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, or if you’re ready to start medication-assisted treatment.

Suboxone and Medication-Assisted Treatment

Suboxone, buprenorphine, or naloxone are the gold standards for opioid use disorder treatment. They can help you feel more like yourself, allowing you to return to work, enjoy interpersonal relationships, and rebuild your life, without the need to attend daily methadone clinic appointments.

  • Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the euphoric high drugs like heroin or oxycodone can.
  • Naloxone rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, including those from prescription medications, fentanyl, and heroin, by blocking receptors in the brain and restoring breathing. You may know it by its brand name, Narcan.
  • Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, treats opioid addiction by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms and blocking the effects of opioid use.

Some people taper off medications after months, while others benefit from longer-term treatment. The process depends on your goals and your stability during treatment time.

When medications are used alongside counseling and support, you can experience recovery. Support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous or SMART Recovery can help you build relationships and purpose, while regular drug urine screens keep you accountable. Therapy helps you understand your triggers and teaches you coping skills so you can avoid using altogether.

Important Notes on Opioid Addiction Treatment in Kansas

While not dangerous, opioid withdrawal is extremely uncomfortable. Brady Psychiatry does not provide inpatient detox, but we can refer you to one nearest to you in Kansas. Brady Psychiatry requires a professional statement acknowledging understanding of controlled substances policies before prescribing suboxone. This protects you and helps to ensure safe treatment.

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Your Opioid Use Disorder Evaluation in Kansas

Your first appointment involves detailed discussion of your opioid use, how long it’s been happening, withdrawal symptoms, previous treatment, and what your goals are. We’ll assess if you need a referral for detoxification or can start medication-assisted treatment with us. If starting medication, we’ll explain how it works, address your concerns, and establish a treatment plan.

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When Should I Get Help for Opioid Use?

If opioid use is affecting your health, relationships, finances, or legal status, reach out. You don’t have to wait until things are worse. If you or someone you know is experiencing overdose symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or losing consciousness, call 911 immediately. If you have it, administer naloxone/Narcan to reverse an overdose. If you’re having thoughts of suicide, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Frequently Asked Questions About Opioid Use Disorder

Don’t addicts choose to use opioids?
Although the initial choice to use drugs is a decision, drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that changes how the brain works. Ultimately, these changes affect judgment and self control, which turns drug use into a physiological need.
Suboxone is a prescribed medication, not a self-administered illicit drug. At prescribed doses, it doesn’t produce a high and doesn’t lead to addiction. In fact, it stops cravings and withdrawal so you can get your life back.
It depends. Some people stabilize on suboxone in months and gradually taper off. Others benefit from longer-term treatment. Your treatment time is based on your goals and stability.
Yes, it is safe when taken as prescribed. Overdose risk is extremely low compared to other opioids. More people overdose on heroin or fentanyl than on properly prescribed suboxone.
The naloxone in suboxone blocks the effects of other opioids, so you won’t get high. This reduces the reward for use and helps you abstain altogether. We’ll monitor your urine screens and adjust treatment as needed.

Recovery is possible with proper treatment.

Schedule your appointment with Montana at Brady Psychiatry today. Telehealth appointments available 24/7 through SimplePractice.

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