According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 100,306 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12 months ending April 2021, representing a 28.5% increase from the same period in the prior year. Provisional data indicate 75,673 overdose deaths were from opioids, up from 56,064. These numbers glaringly show that, despite national efforts to combat it, the opioid epidemic continues to have severe impacts on individuals, families, and communities throughout our nation. New Bridge Foundation® offers an opioid addiction treatment program in California dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome the grips of opioid addiction.
Located in Berkeley, California, New Bridge Foundation® has provided exceptional rehab services to adults for over 50 years. Ranked as one of the nation’s “Best Addiction Treatment Centers” for the second consecutive year (2020, 2021), we offer a diverse range of programs to meet our clients’ unique treatment needs. Contact us at 866.772.8491.
Understanding the Opioid Epidemic
The use of opioids to manage pain has a long history in the United States, dating back to the Civil War when medics used morphine as an anesthetic. Many soldiers became addicted. Bayer introduced heroin to the market in 1898, and many in the medical community believed it was less addictive than morphine. Congress banned the production and sale of heroin in 1924.
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified heroin as a Schedule I drug and fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, and methadone as Schedule II drugs, meaning they were less addictive than heroin. Today we know this is not the case. Fentanyl is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and plays a significant role in overdoses and deaths.
In 1995, Purdue Pharma began aggressively marketing Oxycontin as a safer, non-addictive alternative to other opioid painkillers. Over the next ten years, opioid prescriptions increased from just over 100 million to nearly 300 million. Most experts recognize this as the first wave of the opioid epidemic. By the time experts realized Purdue’s claims about addiction were untrue, millions of Americans were already addicted.
Signs You May Need an Opioid Rehab Program
Opioids are a class of drugs that impact the central nervous system by blocking pain and creating a sense of euphoria. Most people begin using opioids when doctors prescribe them for pain. Many develop a dependency without realizing it. The longer you take opioids, the higher your tolerance becomes. As your brain becomes accustomed to the presence of opioids, it stops natural dopamine production, which is how addiction begins.
Opioid addiction impacts all areas of life and poses a severe risk for overdose and death. Signs you or a loved one may need an opioid rehab program include, but are not limited to:
- Not taking medications as prescribed
- Inability to control prescription drug use
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Exhibiting drug-seeking behavior, including “doctor shopping”
- Turning to the use of illicit drugs
- Buying or stealing prescription drugs from others
- Inability to tend to daily responsibilities
Individuals with opioid use disorder will exhibit marked changes in mood and behavior, including anxiety, depression, declining interest in friends, family, and work, lying, stealing, and significant changes in appearance.
The Benefits of Opioid Addiction Treatment
Fear of going through withdrawal is one of the main reasons people with opioid addiction avoid treatment. In New Bridge Foundation®’s detox program, clients are continuously monitored by medical professionals to ease withdrawal symptoms, increase comfort, and reduce health risks.
Following detox, clients are ready to begin the work of recovery. Through individualized treatment plans, clients will learn about addiction in a safe, supportive, home-like environment that allows them to focus on their recovery. Some of the benefits of an opioid treatment program include:
- Uncovering the underlying issues that contributed to addiction
- Developing new habits and coping strategies
- Repairing damaged relationships through family support
- Trauma-informed care
- Learning to establish healthy boundaries
- Breaking the cycle of addiction
- Learning relapse prevention skills
Overcoming opioid addiction can be challenging, but recovery is possible with professional help from a dedicated team of substance use and mental health experts.
Contact New Bridge Foundation® for Opioid Addiction Treatment
If you suffer from opioid addiction, you are not alone. This disease impacts millions of Americans and their loved ones. Recent statistics indicate that nearly 130 Americans die every day from opioids. Additionally, the overdose rates across the nation have skyrocketed since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic.
New Bridge Foundation® is the premier choice for comprehensive addiction treatment in the San Francisco Bay Area. Contact our team for opioid addiction treatment today. Use our online form or call 866.772.8491.
