Alternatives to Opioids

Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Management

Legacy Healing Center Blog

All across the nation, lawmakers are looking for opioid alternatives to help those who are suffering from chronic pain and to avoid addiction.

Very few communities around the country have not been harmed by the opioid crisis as it kills over 100 individuals a day and costs the U.S economy billions a year. One of the reasons for the rise in opioid abuse is because of the number of legal prescriptions for opioid painkillers that went virtually unregulated for years. This is why lawmakers are looking for opioid alternatives to help individuals stop becoming addicted to them in the first place. Continue reading to learn more about how lawmakers and health providers alike are seeking opioid alternatives and also how to find help for opioid addiction.

Click here or call today to get in touch with a treatment specialist (855) 534-2295

Coming up with Alternatives to Opioids

Opioids are a drug that blocks pain signals by stimulating opioid receptors in the spinal cord and the brain, as stated by the Yale School of Medicine. They are a class of drugs that includes heroin and other pain relievers such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, and methadone. They are commonly prescribed to relieve pain, and if taken correctly they are generally safe. The tough truth to this is that opioids are highly addictive and easy to misuse. When opioids are misused, physical dependence/tolerance can happen, leading to addiction.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among many other sources, over 100 individuals die every day from an opioid overdose, nearly 2,000 suffer from an overdose daily and more than 700,000 individuals have lost their lives to opioids between 1999 and 2017. The need for finding opioid alternatives has come to a head in Hawaii where they took matters into their own hands. State legislators worked with a group of physicians and alternative medicine providers to look at different ways to alleviate pain, other than prescribing opioids. Together they worked through the following topics:

  • Medical management
  • Body and pain management
  • Physical therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage therapy
  • Mind / behavioral / cultural practices

They spoke about how it is very difficult to treat chronic pain, but easy to prescribe pills, especially when seeing individuals in pain. They agreed that a community shift needs to be made and that alternative methods do need to be used. Working together, these groups of doctors and legislators will be able to come up with plans to help the community around them, understanding the need and what is at stake.

If you or someone you love is suffering from an addiction to opioids, you are not alone. Legacy Healing Center can help. Continue reading to learn about who Legacy Healing Center is and how they can help you.

How Legacy Healing Center Can Help

Legacy Healing Center, located in South Florida is one of the top behavioral health providers specializing in the treatment of addiction. Their comprehensive treatments are built on their core values of compassion, commitment, and integrity, focusing on the mind, body, and spirit of those seeking help.

By offering a wide range of treatment programs, Legacy Healing Center is able to give clients the least restrictive programs possible without risking recovery. No matter the problem, the supportive staff is there to follow individuals, and monitor progress every step of the way. With an office in Delray, Pompano Beach and Margate, we are here to help.  Contact Legacy Healing Center Pompano Beach to learn more about addiction treatment services.

 

Ready to get help? The first step is a phone call that holds no-obligation and is free to anyone seeking treatment. Legacy Healing Center is dedicated to helping you, or a loved one work towards a better life. Contact us today 888.534.2295