Many successful professionals are living with untreated opioid addiction because they fear getting help will ruin their careers or negatively impact their performance. To most people, the typical idea of treatment involves leaving everything behind for an inpatient program in a different state that can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days or more. It’s no surprise that professionals would shy away from the idea, especially considering they’d have to explain their hiatus from work.
Thankfully, treatment for opioid use disorder doesn’t always require such a drastic change. Outpatient programs offer effective, evidence-based treatment methods that are perfect for busy professionals who appreciate flexible scheduling and privacy.
Outpatient-based opioid treatment programs, or OBOT, provide structured medication-assisted treatment (MAT) that includes regular check-ins with a medical provider and a substance use counselor. Patients are given prescriptions for medications they can self-dispense at home rather than visiting a clinic daily, making this treatment suitable for busy professionals. This kind of format works for people who have a stable home life and feel they are mostly maintaining their use because withdrawal symptoms are too intrusive to deal with due to their busy lifestyles. Many call this a functional addiction, but the adverse effects of continuous opioid misuse will take a toll regardless of whether the patient can uphold their job.
Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence proving that it is a chronic disease, addiction continues to carry a heavy stigma in society. Working professionals who maintain their opioid misuse secret are often afraid to ruin their reputation by asking for help or speaking about their struggles with colleagues or friends. Additionally, workers are concerned that they could potentially be terminated due to their addiction if they’re found seeking treatment, but the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) prevent such discrimination.
Office-based opioid treatment through OBOT clinics keep all patient charts and information secure, and the facilities look like average doctor offices, so no one would ever suspect a thing. Offices maintain a comfortable, judgment-free atmosphere where patients don’t feel like they’re being punished or treated like delinquents. Instead, they receive the same level of respect and care that patients experience with any other chronic disease. This level of privacy is crucial for many working professionals who harbor a lot of shame regarding their opioid misuse.
Going through the withdrawal process is an agonizing experience, and people rarely make it through for very long before using again. Medication-assisted detox and treatment help ease the withdrawal symptoms, making the transition from opioid misuse to maintenance as seamless as possible with minimal discomfort. As a plus, outpatient MAT programs are comprehensive, including medical providers who oversee total mental and physical health and substance use counselors who help patients deal with the psychological side of addiction as well. Busy professionals can schedule their sessions to work around their schedules, with meetings lasting as little as one hour. With this dynamic approach, patients are much more likely to achieve long-lasting recovery than attempting to discontinue opioid use alone.
To learn more about the practical and convenient outpatient treatment programs at Middlesex Recovery, locate the closest office and message or call today.
