Treatment for drug addiction Pennsylvania

Treatment Depends on the Drug

Different drugs call for different treatment approaches. Combining treatment drugs with individualized behavior therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, significantly improves treatment outcomes and decreases relapse rates.

Benzodiazepines: Withdrawal is associated with seizures and other dangerous symptoms. The risk for seizures increases the longer a person has been taking high doses of benzodiazepines. There are no specific FDA-approved medications for withdrawal from benzodiazepine drugs. Treatment will include managing the symptoms.

Cocaine: Behavioral therapies that help change drug-related habits are effective in treating cocaine addiction, but there is not yet an approved medication to treat this disorder.

Cannabis: Currently, there are no FDA-approved medicines to treat cannabis use disorders or for medically assisted withdrawal. Research on behavioral treatments shows that contingency management and cognitive-behavioral therapy can be effective, and more research is underway.

Treatments for drug addiction fall into two categories: behavioral therapy (also called counseling) and medications.

Behavioral treatment helps patients:

• Modify their attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors associated with drug use
• Increase healthy life skills such as problem-solving and resisting drug offers
• Recognize, avoid, and/or cope with the people, places, and situations that might trigger substance use

Opioid Addiction Treatment

Opioid addiction treatment often includes behavioral therapies (like cognitive-behavioral therapy and contingency management) in combination with medications like methadone or buprenorphine. These treatments are very effective for treating addiction to opioids. However, each person is different, so it is important that you work closely with your health care provider to choose the right treatment plan.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): A combination of behavioral therapy and medications (methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone) used for treating opioid use disorder. MAT is considered the standard of care for opioid use disorders. MAT helps people recover from drug dependence and reduces their risk for overdose.

Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are safe and effective medications that can help you or your loved one recover from opioid addiction. They are an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes behavioral therapy and support from family and friends.

Methadone is a long-acting opioid medication used to help people who are addicted to opioids like heroin, morphine, and prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin. Methadone can help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, but it does not produce the same euphoric effects as other opioids do.

Methadone is administered in a specialized clinic setting by trained medical professionals to minimize misuse and abuse. It is typically taken once per day orally or through a liquid solution at an outpatient clinic.

Prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment was made easier by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The requirement to apply for and obtain a DATA-Waiver has been eliminated, along with the patient cap, under this new law.

Naltrexone can help people maintain their abstinence from opioids. Naltrexone blocks the effect of any opioid taken orally, intravenously, or intramuscularly, including fentanyl. It can only be used if the person has not taken any opioids in at least one week.

Fentanyl and Treatment

Fentanyl addiction is treated with the same medications used for other opioid use disorders. There are several FDA-approved medications available that reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse. All of these medications have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials, but some may be more appropriate than others depending on an individual's situation.

Fentanyl can be reversed with naloxone if it causes an overdose.

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist drug that blocks the effects of opioids. It comes as a daily pill or injection given by your doctor every month. Naltrexone can help you overcome cravings and avoid relapse.

Lofexidine is a nonopioid medication that helps reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, muscle aches, insomnia, anxiety, and drug craving.

Although medications for treatment of opioid use disorder are the standard of care, not everyone takes them. Some people with fentanyl use disorder do not have access to these treatments or do not feel comfortable taking them due to stigma around medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Other people who take medications to treat their addiction might discontinue taking the medications because they find it difficult to attend scheduled doctor appointments.

Treatment can also involve behavioral therapy, which helps an individual recognize and avoid situations that may trigger a desire for drugs. Behavioral therapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, contingency management, and family-based therapies.

Fentanyl mixed into other drugs raises serious concerns about overdose death. The drug is so potent that users can easily die from a tiny amount.

When more than one drug is being used, it's very important to know how each drug affects the body. Mixing two or more drugs can create unknown health risks. It's also possible for people to be unaware of the presence of fentanyl in other drugs.

Cocaine and Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment

No FDA-approved medication treats cocaine or methamphetamine use disorders. However, there are several types of behavioral therapies that have proven effective in the treatment of stimulant use disorders. Behavioral therapies can be used to help a person cope with cravings for drugs and also to help prevent relapse.

Cocaine and methamphetamine addiction lack the same FDA-approved drugs to treat their respective disorders as other substances of abuse like opioids. While this can be frustrating for patients and their loved ones, there are a number of different approaches to treating stimulant use disorders that do work. In fact, many behavioral treatments for stimulants have been shown to be very effective in both outpatient and residential settings.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has also proven effective for treating stimulant use disorder. This form of psychotherapy helps patients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so they can make positive changes in all three areas to manage cravings and other triggers related to drug use. Patients learn how to identify negative patterns of thinking or behavior that may contribute to substance abuse issues such as methamphetamine addiction. CBT also teaches skills for coping with stressors without resorting back to drugs or alcohol when faced with difficult situations.

People who are addicted to methamphetamine may go through withdrawal when they stop taking the drug. The symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal include depression and sleep problems. These symptoms peak about two or three days after the last use and typically last for a week.

Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment

Cannabis withdrawal can bring irritability, insomnia, and decreased appetite.

Cannabis use disorder is treated with behavioral interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), or contingency management. Research shows that CBT, MET, and contingency management are effective in treating cannabis use disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps a person learn to identify their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings that trigger drug use, which can be helpful in treating cannabis addiction.

Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) is an approach for helping a person get motivated to make changes in their behavior. It helps the client identify the reasons they want to change and work through them. Research shows that MET is effective in treating cannabis use disorder.

Contingency management (CM), also known as incentive-based therapy, is a form of behavioral treatment in which clients are rewarded for engaging in the desired behavior - in this case, abstinence from drugs. The rewards include vouchers or coupons with cash value that can be exchanged for tangible items like movie tickets or gift cards. Research shows that contingency management is effective in treating cannabis use disorder.

Benzodiazepine and Sedative Addiction Treatment

Stopping benzodiazepines too quickly can cause uncomfortable symptoms. For example, if you're prescribed a high dose of Klonopin for a long time to treat panic disorder or severe anxiety and stop it abruptly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as seizures.

Detoxing from benzos can cause seizures, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, it's important that anyone attempting to quit cold turkey does so under the care of a doctor who will help with the medical side effects of withdrawal (and possibly prescribe medications to ease symptoms) and refer them to an addiction rehab program for ongoing treatment.

Treatment for benzo addiction involves detoxification followed by rehabilitation services. In a residential program, a doctor can monitor withdrawal symptoms and provide any necessary medications. Other treatment methods include cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, motivational enhancement, and 12-step programs.

As with all forms of addiction treatment, medication management is one piece of the larger puzzle. Most people who get sober are going to need some form of therapy as well. A therapist can help you work through underlying mental health issues that may have contributed to your addiction and give you tools to deal with stress and cravings.

Using More Than One Substance

Using more than one substance raises many questions about treatment programs. First, you have to consider whether you can attend an inpatient program that requires you to stay away from home for weeks or months. Some people need that type of support to be successful in early recovery. However, other people cannot afford to miss work or take time off from school for such a long period of time.

In addition, you have to consider the nature of your drug use. If you are using multiple substances, does any one of them pose more of a threat to your life and health than another? For example, if you mix opioids with benzodiazepines, or alcohol with opioids, there is a higher risk of overdose than with other combinations.

It can be difficult to determine how to approach treatment for people who use multiple substances. However, it's important that they have access to medical care and counseling so that their health problems and substance use issues are addressed in a comprehensive manner.

The most effective programs treat both the addiction and any associated mental disorders simultaneously. If you have an addiction disorder with co-occurring mental disorders, your treatment plan should address all of your illnesses, not just one or the other. Treatment plans may include medications, group counseling, family therapy, and individual therapy.

Fentanyl mixed into other drugs raises the risk of overdose because it is so much stronger than heroin or prescription opioids.

Mixing alcohol and drugs can be deadly. For example, people who mix alcohol and sedatives like benzodiazepines may be at a higher risk for overdose. Some people intentionally use alcohol to enhance the effects of cocaine, methamphetamine, or other stimulants. This combination may cause someone to feel even more euphoric but also increase their heart rate and blood pressure, leading to dangerous health outcomes.

Using multiple drugs may mean that you have an addiction to multiple substances. You might be addicted to opioids, alcohol, cannabis, sedatives, and/or stimulants at the same time. Using more than one substance can make your health worse in the long run.

Getting Treatment in Pennsylvania

Medicaid members in Pennsylvania reach treatment through the BH-MCOs. Members can also access information on services, programs and resources through their contracted BH-MCO.

Treatment may vary by BH-MCO so members should check with their BH-MCO to find out what treatment options are available to them. Some options may include:

• Outpatient counseling sessions
• Family counseling sessions
• Individual counseling sessions
• Group therapy
• Case management and assistance for housing, job placement, transportation, etc.
• Detoxification services
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• Inpatient treatment

Single County Authorities (SCAs): The Single County Authority is a county-based agency that oversees alcohol and other drug abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment programs. SCAs are responsible for the coordination and management of these programs within the counties.

Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations (BH-MCOs) serve as your contact with Medicaid. They can help you find providers and give you general information about services covered by Medicaid.

Treatment for drug addiction by Pennsylvania city

Addresses and phones are on each city page.