Category Archives: Health

A Comprehensive Overview of Medication Assisted Treatment

01/31/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is a type of treatment for individuals with substance use disorders. It combines the use of medications with counseling services to help individuals achieve long-term recovery from their addictions. MAT is a comprehensive approach that can address addiction on multiple levels, including physical, psychological, behavioral, and social. Let’s explore how medication assisted treatment works.

How Does MAT Work?

The main component of MAT is medication. To treat opioid use disorder, three medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These medications work by binding to specific receptors in the brain that are affected by opioids such as heroin or prescription painkillers like oxycodone or hydrocodone. By blocking these receptors, these medications prevent the euphoric effects associated with opioid drugs and also reduce cravings for opioids so that a person can focus on their recovery without being distracted by thoughts about using drugs again.

In addition to medication, MAT also includes counseling and other forms of psychosocial therapy. Counseling helps people identify triggers for substance abuse and develop coping skills to manage cravings or difficult situations without resorting to drug use. Other types of therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help a person learn how to identify negative patterns of thought and behavior associated with addiction so they can be better prepared to make healthier choices in the future.

These elements combine together to create an effective treatment plan tailored specifically for each individual’s needs. With the right combination of medication, counseling, peer support groups, lifestyle changes, and other resources such as job training programs or housing assistance services, MAT can help people struggling with addiction achieve long-term recovery success.

Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment

There are many benefits associated with medication-assisted treatment. First, MAT can help reduce cravings, which can be incredibly difficult to manage on your own. Cravings are an intense physiological response that often lead people back into using drugs or alcohol even if they don’t want to. By taking medications, you can reduce these cravings, which makes it easier for you to remain abstinent from drugs or alcohol. Additionally, MAT also helps reduce withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, anxiety, depression and more. This makes it easier for individuals to maintain their abstinence without having to deal with uncomfortable physical symptoms.

Second, MAT helps individuals stay in treatment longer than they would otherwise be able to without medication support. Studies have shown that individuals who receive medication-assisted treatment are much more likely to complete their treatment programs than those who do not receive any type of medication therapy at all. This means that individuals who receive MAT will be much more likely to get the full benefit from their treatments – something that cannot always be said when only relying on counseling alone. Finally, MAT also helps increase safety during recovery by reducing the risk of relapse or overdose due to decreased tolerance levels when taking medications prescribed by a physician or other healthcare provider.

Medications Used in MAT

Some common medications used during medication assisted treatment include buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), methadone (Methadose), naltrexone (Vivitrol), acamprosate (Campral), disulfiram (Antabuse), topiramate (Topamax), and fluoxetine (Prozac). Different medications may be prescribed depending on an individual’s specific needs and goals for recovery. It’s important to talk with your doctor about which medication is right for you before starting any type of medication assisted treatment program.

Overall, medication assisted treatment is a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorder that involves both medication management and psychotherapy services to best meet an individual’s needs for long-term recovery from addiction. While this type of treatment may not be right for everyone, it can be incredibly beneficial if used correctly as part of an effective addiction recovery plan. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or is looking into different types of treatments available, consider discussing the option of MAT with your doctor or healthcare provider today.

Going Strong, Health, Lifestyle, Tips

Boost Your Confidence in 2023 With These Tips

01/30/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

There are moments when keeping your head up might be incredibly difficult. Everyone goes through moments in their lives when they have low self-confidence and self-esteem. A lack of self-confidence can be caused by a number of causes, including being in an unpleasant relationship, having difficulty embracing who you are, or both. If you are suffering, there is good news: help is available for those in your situation.

Remember that pain should not be endured in silence, as a problem shared is a problem halved. Take a look at the information provided below to see how you can handle the problem and restore your confidence.

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Remove the Toxic Waste

If you are constantly in the company of people who do not value you, you may have become accustomed to hearing others speak poorly about you. You do not need to be around this because it is unjust and has no bearing on you. Remove yourself from the situation, both physically and psychologically, and stop your contact with anyone who brings negativity into your life. It is possible that you are not aware that this is what you need to do, but your physical and emotional health will thank you if you do.

Make a call to the experts.

If you believe that something about yourself, such as your teeth, is defective in some way, there are steps you can take to address the problem. If you are experiencing tooth pain, you should make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. Visiting a dentist for implants might be a terrifying experience, but remember that they are there to help you. If it is financial constraints keep you from visiting the dentist on a regular basis, you might consider purchasing dental insurance that would cover any necessary dental care. The majority of dentists now offer payment plans, so this is another option for patients like you.

Believe the compliments.
Believe the nice things people say about you when they tell you. Why would somebody say something just to say something? They have no reason to. If you ever find yourself doubting praises, ask yourself why the individual would say that. This should bring you back to reality and remind you of the lovely compliments you are now receiving. Humans thrive on compliments and niceness; it is not in our nature to be harsh in reaction to compliments. You have developed in yourself the attitude that you cannot believe what others say because of how you feel about your body. Put no stock in what you see in the mirror; how other people perceive you is not always how you should perceive yourself.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle, Parenting

Health Habits Parents Need To Start With Early

01/26/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Every one of us has some bad habits that we would rather not. In fact, you may have experienced how difficult those habits can be to get away from and this can be the case because they have been ingrained in us since childhood. Rather than letting your kids pick up bad habits that they would rather get rid of, here are a few healthier habits that you can ingrain into them while they’re still young.

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Get up and get moving

Exercise is one of the most difficult habits for even adults to pick up, themselves when they’re not accustomed to it. Getting the motivation and getting used to being more active can be quite the hurdle. Your kids are likely to already be quite active, with playtime doing a lot to keep them moving for the first few years. However, as they get older, if they’re not getting into sports teams, then it’s a good idea to find ways to be active together. Whether it’s with bike rides, walks, or anything else, your kids are a lot more to keep up if you’re there taking part with them.

Taking care of their teeth

The impact that dental neglect can have on a child’s self-esteem and confidence in the future can be devastating. Your child isn’t to blame if this happens, it’s usually due to a poor enforcement of dental hygiene habits as a child. Make sure that you visit the dentist with them early and often, taking care of their teeth and getting all of the oral care advice that you need. If they get into the routine of brushing, and then later flossing and rinsing once they have their adult teeth, it’s not a habit that they’re likely to lose as they get older. If they don’t get that habit early, they might not get it at all.

Making good eating choices

A lot of parents feed their kids all manner of unhealthy snacks, like candy, soda, chips, and more, that are going to do very little to give their body the nutrients it needs. It’s easy to use snacks as a reward or a way to placate them. However, these can soon become everyday parts of their lifestyle. You should start making efforts to direct the family’s diet in a healthier direction. Employ some helpful tricks such as offering choices of healthy foods and finding vegetable alternatives to ensure they’re eating better.

Recognizing risks

Children do not have the same sense of risk or danger that adults have. In a lot of cases, they may not truly get the consequences of certain health risks until they experience them. However, while trying not to give them a fearful disposition, you should try to teach them to recognize and avoid potentially harmful things. There are plenty of good kids’ books about these.

If you can turn good health practices into learned behaviors for your kids, they’re a lot more likely to stick with them as they go through life. Keep that in mind with the tips above.