Syosset Psychiatrist

Drug Addiction TreatmentSyosset, NY

An individual saddled with a drug addiction is encouraged to obtain professional assistance. One’s odds of overcoming the addiction are minimal unless he engages in professional drug addiction treatment. This is also true for those who are addicted to alcohol and smoking. If you or anyone in your family struggles with drug addiction, alcohol addiction or a nicotine addiction, do not attempt to fight this battle on your own.

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    Professional Drug Treatment

    There is no shame in obtaining professional assistance to help you beat the addiction and return your life to normal. Below, we take a look at professional drug treatment along with specific treatment approaches for opioids, alcohol, and smoking.

    Drug treatment is meant to assist addicts to cease compulsive drug use and drug-seeking. Drug addiction is a chronic disorder that often involves relapses. As a result, one-time or short-term drug treatment is insufficient. In most instances, professional drug treatment is a fairly lengthy process. In some instances, regular monitoring and/or numerous interventions are required.

    Certain patients require ongoing support across years, decades or even the remainder of their life. Drug treatment includes behavioral therapy and/or medication(s). The patient’s unique needs and the type of drug he is addicted play a part in determining the optimal form of treatment.

    Opioid Addiction Treatment

    The treatments for opioid addiction are similar to those for illegal drugs. Both types of drugs tend to impact the same portions of the brain. Those who are addicted to opioids often find medications to be quite helpful. Examples of medications that have helped opioid addicts overcome their addiction include methadone, naltrexone and buprenorphine. Behavioral therapy is another option.

    Such therapy helps patients become active participants in their drug treatment. It provides strategies that help the patient cope with drug cravings. Behavioral therapy also teaches addicts methods and strategies to avoid drugs, prevent relapse and deal with relapse in the event it occurs. This form of therapy also helps addicts enhance their communication skills, relationships and family dynamics. Some opioid treatment programs make use of individual therapy.

    Opioid dependence is so powerful that most patients find it nearly impossible to manage their cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone treatment has proven quite helpful for the suppression of these withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It helps the patient manage the addiction and rebuild his life.

    Suboxone film is approved by the USDA as a component of medication-assisted treatment. It is a prescribed medication employed in combination with behavioral therapy that has helped countless people combat opioid addiction. Though suboxone is not a foolproof cure for opioid addiction, it is safe and highly effective.

    Smoking Cessation

    Those addicted to smoking have enjoyed success with nicotine preparations ranging from specialized gum to patches, nasal spray and lozenges. Tobacco addicts have also cut down or eliminated their consumption of nicotine with the use of medications like bupropion and varenicline. Others try to quit tobacco with the assistance of a behavioral counselor. Some patients combine behavioral counseling with medications.

    Each professional tobacco cessation method is designed to eliminate nicotine addiction as well as the symptoms resulting from withdrawal. Nicotine replacement therapy, NRT, is quite popular. This is a medication that provides the body with a small amount of nicotine without the carbon monoxide, tar and harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke.

    NRT decreases the uncomfortable withdrawal effects like cravings and mood alterations that occur when one stops smoking. NRT is available from a doctor by way of prescription. It is used in the form of chewing gum, skin patches, mouth spray, tablets or inhalators. This method releases the nicotine slowly across eight to twelve weeks. The dose is eventually reduced and ultimately stopped altogether.

    Alcohol Addiction Treatment

    Alcohol addiction commonly occurs when an individual is addicted to other drugs including prescription medications. Those who are plagued by an alcohol addiction often lean on medications like naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram. Yet many alcoholics find behavioral counseling to be a superior option. This approach is led by health professionals in an attempt to change the patient’s behavior through counseling.

    The patient strives to develop the skills necessary to reduce or cease drinking. Behavioral counseling also helps the patient cope with or avoid triggers that lead to relapse, work toward reachable goals and develop a robust social support system. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and 12-step programs are also quite popular amongst those plagued by alcoholism. Many alcoholics find a combination of the treatment approaches listed above to be the most effective.

    Contact Us

    Evolve Psychiatry is located at
    175 Jericho Turnpike #216
    Syosset, NY 11791

    (631) 763-6030