Methadone Treatment Program
Research has demonstrated that long-term methadone use can disrupt the way critical brain structures interact. Just as our skin wrinkles when we receive repeated doses of sunlight, the brain adjusts to the daily bath in opioids by changing the production of certain neurotransmitters and by reducing the number of receptors that can receive signals. The brain’s reward circuit, which links together a number of brain structures that control and regulate our ability to feel pleasure, is activated by methadone. This is why individuals eventually feel numb, flat, and depressed, and barely able to motivate themselves to pursue previous goals and dreams. Perhaps more importantly, methadone addiction retards a person’s self-development and ability to mature in their attitudes and behaviors.
Morningside Recovery helps individuals develop the life skills that promote lasting recovery so that they can reach their potential. Both group and individual therapy serve to educate clients about methadone addiction, including the effects of addiction on the brain. Research has shown that long-term opioid use can trigger adaptations in unconscious memory systems. Even before science described this cognitive process, recovery professionals were aware of this process and described it as “triggers,” whereby environmental cues become associated with the drug experience and activate uncontrollable cravings when the individual is later exposed to these cues. This learned reflex can be incredibly strong and influential and this is why all aspects of treatment are so important.
Morningside’s staff crafts each treatment program to accommodate individual needs and deal with any co-occurring disorders. If necessary, clients with co-occurring mood disorders are treated with the appropriate medication. This medication is prescribed in such a way so as to minimize any side effects that disrupt personal growth. The length of time someone must take a psychotherapeutic medication depends on many factors. Some individuals take medication for several months and then taper off of it. For others, medication is best taken indefinitely.
Along with medication, therapy at Morningside prods clients to examine their own thinking and how their beliefs affect how they feel and behave. Clients explore their personal history to shed light on unrealistic or harmful beliefs. Therapy also brings the family into the conversation both to educate members about the addict’s condition as well as to engage the family in the process of examining how each member is participating in the family system that has addiction at its heart.
Phase I treatment can include a daily routine of relaxation techniques such as mindful meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, controlled breathing, and visualization exercises. In addition, all therapeutic approaches are supported by daily physical exercise, which is a natural mood elevator. Research shows that as little as 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week can provide significant relief. Also, clients interact with members of the local community to learn to handle stressful circumstances and environmental cues without resorting to drugs. One client shared his experience: “I was living in New York just because basically that’s where it was easiest to get methadone. I couldn’t have walked up one flight of stairs without getting dizzy. When I got to Morningside I started exercising and eating properly. I got back into surfing and ended up living in Newport Beach. I felt like the methadone chapter of my life was closed.”
Testimonials
