Outpatient Illinois Rehab Centers Aim To Help Locals Overcome Opioid Dependence
Every day in the U.S. an estimated 78 people die from an opioid overdose, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The state of Illinois was recently awarded a portion of $53 million from Congress to combat its opioid epidemic and reduce opioid overdose death rates.
In the midst of the country’s opioid crisis, Illinois rehab centers are starting to offer more outpatient programs with hopes of helping recovering addicts overcome dependence while maintaining normal daily routines.
If you or someone you care about is addicted to opioids, call our confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about your rehab options. Our caring treatment specialists will help you find rehab centers in Illinois that specialize in treating opioid addiction.
Choosing Outpatient Rehab for Opioid Addiction
Outpatient programs give recovering addicts the ability to continue working.
Paul Getzendanner, regional executive director for an outpatient rehab center that recently opened in Highland Park, says nine out of 10 recovering opioid addicts experience relapse after participating in inpatient programs that prevent them from establishing normal daily routines. He says that in many cases, recovering opioid addicts could benefit more from outpatient rehab. Getzendanner says using medication-assisted treatments for opioid dependence is one of the most effective treatments for helping addicts stay sober long-term following rehab.
Getzendanner adds that most traditional inpatient rehab programs cut patients off from access to computers and the Internet, which interferes with normal daily function and activities. He says many opioid addicts are unable to take 30 to 45 days away from work and family obligations, and fail to succeed in rehab due to the commitments most inpatient programs require from patients. But outpatient opioid rehab programs allow patients to continue working and interacting with family members throughout treatment.
Getzendanner says he entered the addiction treatment field after spending 14 years practicing law while regularly abusing alcohol and other substances. After a 12-step program helped him overcome dependence and achieve sobriety, Getzendanner decided to return to school and earn a master’s degree in social work.
Using Medication-Assisted Treatments at Outpatient Rehab
Getzendanner’s rehab center and many other outpatient rehab centers throughout Illinois use medication-assisted treatments to help opioid addicts overcome addiction. These treatment programs involve the use of buprenorphine, a prescription medication that reduces opioid withdrawal symptoms while blocking the effects that produce a euphoric high. Buprenorphine also eases opioid cravings so patients can focus more on recovery and less on worrying about when and how to fulfill cravings.
Shortly after joining outpatient rehab programs, patients are given their first dose of buprenorphine and monitored for several hours. This step allows physicians to determine the proper dose for patients based on their opioid tolerance levels, and is key to preventing relapse. Eventually, patients are provided with two- or three-day supplies of buprenorphine, and are required to visit the clinic several times per week to refill their prescriptions.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging Illinois and other states to start using buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction, since evidence shows this treatment is highly effective at curbing addiction and relapses. U.S. lawmakers are also working on minimizing the over-prescribing of opioid painkillers, and on increasing first responders’ access to naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote that helps revive overdose victims.
If you’re struggling with addiction to opioid painkillers, understand that getting help now can potentially save your life and lower your risk for an overdose. Call our confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 for more information about Illinois rehab centers that offer outpatient programs and medication-assisted treatments for opioid addiction.
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