Opioid Addiction services offered in Port Hadlock and Port Angeles, WA

Opioids ranging from illegal heroin and fentanyl to prescription oxycodone or over-the-counter Kratom can be highly addictive. If you can’t stop using one of these substances, Olympic Peninsula Health Services in Port Hadlock and Port Angeles, Washington, can help. The practice’s addiction medicine specialists are experts in using medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone to help with your journey to freedom from opioid addiction.

Call your nearest office or book an appointment online to begin your journey.

What is opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction is a substance use disorder that develops when you misuse opioid drugs. Opioids, a group of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, relieve pain and anxiety, numbing your mind and body and inducing euphoric feelings. Many opioid drugs are prescription medicines used for moderate to severe pain, such as:

  • Hydrocodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Oxycodone
  • Morphine
  • Tramadol

The longer you take opioids, often the less effective they are because your body becomes tolerant to them. You’re likely to use increasing quantities of opioids to try and achieve the same effect. Eventually, many must take these drugs just to function.

Do I have an opioid addiction?

According to HHS.gov in 2019 an estimated 10.1 million people 12 and over misused opioids. Many people find it hard to accept they have an opioid addiction, especially if they’re addicted to legal prescription medications, but a national survey showed an estimated 9.7 million people misused their prescriptions in 2019. Common signs of opioid addiction include:

  • Increased anxiety
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Lack of interest in enjoyable activities
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulties sleeping

When you have an opioid addiction, you often spend a lot of time, money, and energy daily to obtain your opioid of choice, use it and then recover.

To assess opioid addiction, the Olympic Peninsula Health Services team uses the DSM5 screening tool to assist in learning about your opioid use, including how much you use, how often, and if you experience withdrawal symptoms.

How is opioid addiction treated?

Withdrawal is a major barrier to overcoming opioid addiction. When you stop taking an opioid you’re addicted to, it can cause a variety of problems, such as:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Cramping
  • Severe fatigue
  • Sweating
  • Shaking
  • Headaches
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Cravings

Managing withdrawal symptoms is key to successful recovery from opioid addiction. The Olympic Peninsula Health Services team uses medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and other medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and make it easier for you to stop using.

MAT involves taking medications such as Suboxone® which reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms, or naltrexone which blocks the effects of opioids.

Psychotherapy is also helpful in the path to recovery. It can help you identify and address issues that make you more likely to develop an addiction. You will also learn essential coping techniques and develop valuable support networks.

Call Olympic Peninsula Health Services or book an appointment online today to benefit from expert opioid addiction treatment.