You may have heard about the opioid crisis taking place across Canada today. However, as devastating as this news is, opioid abuse, particularly within specific Canadian regions, has been a widespread issue for some time.
Sadly, more than nine-thousand Canadians have lost their lives due to opioid overdose since 2016. In addition, recent reports show that around eleven people died each day in 2017 due to opioid overdoses.
Canada’s opioid crisis has been referred to as a ‘pandemic’ by some addiction experts. From this, it is evident that more needs to be done to prevent opioid abuse and opioid-related deaths among the Canadian population.
Fortunately, various treatment options are available for those seeking recovery from opioid use disorder. Let’s look at some of these options in more detail.
Getting help for opioid use disorder
If you are thinking about getting help for opioid use disorder, various treatments are available.
Nowadays, most drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres treat opioid use disorder, including other addictions and mental health issues.
Sublocade treatment is one of the most effective medications for opioid use disorder since it helps manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent future relapse when abstaining from the drug.
Mental health and addiction treatment in Toronto, Canada
If you are seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, Centres for Health and Healing can help.
We are the leading providers of Sublocade treatment in Toronto, Canada.
Our comprehensive Sublocade program effectively treats individuals suffering from opioid addiction, helping them work toward lasting sobriety and wellness.
But that’s not all.
Our professional team of qualified experts provides a holistic approach to addiction and mental health treatment, meaning we use a ‘whole’ person approach to recovery for long-term success.
Addiction is a symptom of a much larger problem
In our experience, addiction is usually a symptom of deeper, unresolved emotional issues.
In other words, people turn to substances such as opioids, alcohol, or other illicit drugs to numb the pain of past trauma or adverse experiences they would prefer not to think about or discuss.
Numbing emotional pain may seem tempting at first.
But when drinking or drug-taking becomes a habit, addiction is often the result; here, the individual does not only have to deal with the unpleasant symptoms of past trauma but also the addictive patterns they have used to cope.
An individualised treatment approach to addiction and mental health
Because of the complex nature of opioid use disorder, addiction treatment programs must include tailored therapies such as medication-assisted treatment like Sublocade, cognitive therapies, and comprehensive aftercare and support.
We know that addiction is a complex disease. Therefore, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to recovery.
Your experiences with opioid addiction will differ from other people’s; therefore, the most effective treatment programs include a holistic approach to recovery, involving a combination of personalised treatments and not just standalone therapeutic methods.
What is the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder?
Treatment for opioid use disorder typically involves a combination of therapies and medications.
In our experience, patients have the best outcomes when their treatment program involves a combination of behavioural therapies, medication, and ongoing support.
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
Sublocade, a medication-assisted treatment (MAT), is the most effective medication for treating opioid use disorder since it helps manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent future relapse.
What is Sublocade?
Sublocade is a controlled substance containing the partial opioid agonist buprenorphine. It works by providing a steady, consistent level of buprenorphine in your body, helping to alleviate any cravings you may experience for opioids while reducing withdrawal symptoms.
Sublocade is prescribed as part of a comprehensive addiction program to help manage opioid addiction for those with opioid use disorder.
How does Sublocade work?
Sublocade effectively treats patients with various opioid addictions, including moderate to severe opioid use disorder.
As mentioned earlier, Sublocade contains buprenorphine, a partial agonist that stimulates the same brain receptors as opioids but at a more reduced level.
How can Sublocade treatment benefit you?
Sublocade minimises any adverse effects associated with opioids, reducing your risk of overdose. It also helps manage cravings, allowing you to put all your focus on your recovery.
Flexible treatment plan
Unlike some addiction programs, Sublocade provides a flexible treatment schedule, meaning you do not need to enrol in residential treatment; you can continue your daily routines, including work, family, social and childcare responsibilities while undergoing treatment.
What does this mean for you?
No lengthy inpatient admissions! Instead, Sublocade allows you to remain present within your day-to-day life while getting the help and support you need for opioid use disorder.
How is Sublocade given?
Sublocade must only be administered by an experienced healthcare professional.
Treatment is administered monthly by a trained medical practitioner through an injection under your skin. Sublocade provides continuous treatment for opioid use disorder by gradually releasing the medication into your body over time.
Additional benefits of Sublocade treatment
Sublocade’s main job is to block your brain from experiencing the desirable effects it expects to receive by blocking the opioid from attaching to specific receptors in your brain; these are called mu-receptors.
When you take opioids, a rewiring occurs where your brain submits to the effects of the drug.
Sublocade blocks your brain from experiencing any desirable effects by preventing the rewiring that occurs from taking opioids, meaning you do not get the ‘high’ you usually would when taking the substance.
Sublocade helps manage opioid withdrawal symptoms
Opioid withdrawal is a common, albeit unpleasant, experience for those who stop taking opioids; as you can imagine, this process can be difficult for many people.
However, Sublocade helps alleviate the unpleasant symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal, including:
- Physical aches and pains
- Mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression
- Sickness and nausea
- Fever or high temperature
What other treatments are used with Sublocade to treat opioid use disorder?
Other treatments are used with Sublocade to help treat patients with opioid use disorder. In our experience, people have a much better chance at lasting recovery when addiction or mental health treatment involves a bespoke, personalised recovery plan.
When treating opioid use disorder, treatment providers must use an individualised treatment approach, which includes a combination of different therapies and techniques to give patients a better chance at recovery.
At Centres for Health and Healing, we use a range of evidence-based therapies for treating opioid use disorder. Our addiction and mental health treatment programs include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – involves addressing maladjusted thoughts and behaviours that can lead to addiction. A CBT therapist will help unpack any destructive thoughts or behaviour patterns that may have led to opioid abuse, allowing you to identify and replace negative coping patterns with more positive ones.
- Group therapy – provides a supportive environment where you can discuss your issues with opioid addiction in a safe space with others who understand your experiences. Group therapy is usually facilitated by one or more experienced therapists who work with several clients simultaneously.
- Family support – we know that family support is essential to a person’s recovery from addiction or other mental health issues. Families can learn more about the disease, how it impacts them and their loved ones, and practise supportive measures which can help repair any damage caused by a family member’s substance abuse.
- Aftercare and support – effective addiction programs involve comprehensive aftercare, which provides support to patients after they complete inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. These programs help patients stay on track after completing addiction treatment, with many programs offering continuous support to patients as and when they need it.
Finding recovery at Centres for Health and Healing
At Centres for Health and Healing, we believe the most effective treatment approach to addiction involves unpacking all the parts contributing to a person’s substance use.
For instance, studies show a strong correlation between emotional trauma and substance use disorder.
Therefore, we incorporate all the necessary components needed to treat each person individually; this is done by creating a personalised addiction and mental health treatment program.
If you are struggling with opioid use disorder or other addictions, Centres for Health and Healing can help.
We are the leading provider of Sublocade treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder in Toronto, Canada.
In addition, our mental health treatment programs involve a mixture of behavioural therapies, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), one-to-one counselling, and group and family support to help you overcome opioid use disorder and live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling existence.
Addiction doesn’t have to be a way of life, and you do not need to suffer in silence.
Please speak to a friendly, experienced team member today for further support and information about our Sublocade program.
Additional resources
- All About Sublocade Injection, Healthline, Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS, September 12, 2022
- Understanding a broader range of opioid-related hospitalisations in Canada, the Government of Canada
- Ten Dollar Death Trip: A Deep-Dive Into Canada’s Opioid Crisis, Centres for Health and Healing, October 26, 2022
