At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of five addiction-recovery centers on Long Island, New York, we treat and help our patients overcome their addictions and substance use disorders. Over recent years, the number of opioid use disorders has continued to increase. With that being said, we have made treating opioid use disorder, (OUD), a top priority. Victory currently operates two methadone clinics, located in Shirley and Farmingville.
According to John Hopkins medicine, “Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a complex illness characterized by compulsive use of opioid drugs even when the person wants to stop...” Examples of opioids include heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl. This disorder, if left untreated, can negatively affect a patient’s mental and physical well-being, and even lead to death. In fact, between 1999-2020, over 800,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. This is a surprising statistic, and we recognize that something needs to be done to prevent more deaths from this disorder.
There are several symptoms of opioid use disorder, including physical dependence, unhealthy or frequent use, cravings, and drowsiness or changes in sleep patterns. Physical dependence includes feeling several withdrawal symptoms when you stop using the drug. Similar to other drug addictions or substance use disorders, with OUD, a user may experience increased cravings and even physical symptoms such as sweating.
Some patients with OUD report that they will still use the drugs even when they are fully aware of the fact that the drugs are causing problems or disruptions in their daily lives. This includes health issues, financial issues, and disruptions to one’s relationships with friends or family. When one’s daily life becomes affected, it is evident that OUD is present.
A third symptom, cravings, can present itself in a number of ways. Cravings can be felt physically or even emotionally. Generally, these cravings, especially with OUD, tend to be so strong that the user will give in and use the drug despite being fully aware of all the potential consequences of their actions.
There are also a significant number of other signs of OUD. For example, changes in sleep patterns, weight loss, financial issues, and isolation from one’s friends and family can all be signs of OUD.
Here at Victory, we are experienced with treating opioid use disorders. Our methadone programs are specifically designed to help patients overcome these obstacles. Over the last several years, we have been fortunate enough to witness so many patients successfully overcome OUD.
Combining methadone treatment with other forms of treatment, such as counseling, has proven to be a successful combination for our patients. Through counseling, patients can get to the root cause of their addictions, understanding the thoughts and behaviors that must be addressed to prevent any relapses or future addictions.
Victory Recovery Partners, a network of five addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, treats patients who suffer from substance use disorders and addictions. In addition to our five centers, we also operate two methadone treatment centers. The presence of opioid use disorder has been increasing in the United States over recent years, and it’s an issue that certainly needs to be addressed. With that being said, we are using all our resources, including our teams at the methadone treatment centers, to help our patients overcome these struggles and addictions.
The key here is to also raise awareness. As more people learn about OUD and the risks associated with developing it, as a nation we will be more educated and knowledgeable on ways to treat it.
If you or someone you know is struggling with OUD, we would like to help. Please visit our website, www.victoryrp.com to learn more.
