You've got people now.
You've got people now.
Loved ones of people who are taking or considering a medication for their addiction often have important questions. Below are answers to some of the most common questions friends and family members ask.
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by:
Addiction is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness. Because of this medical understanding, we refer to addiction as a substance use disorder, such as “opioid use disorder.”
There are several reasons why one person develops a substance use disorder and another person does not.
One reason is that the risk of addiction can be partly inherited. People with blood relatives who have an addiction may be at increased risk of developing one as well. It is especially important for younger relatives to know that using alcohol or drugs might be more dangerous for them than their friends.
A second reason people may be more at risk for developing an addiction is that they experienced trauma.
A third reason is that they used a substance at a younger age when their brain was more vulnerable to developing an addiction.
There may be other reasons—or no clear reason—why someone develops an addiction.
In the past, a common myth was to think that people with an addiction had a weakness in character. This is not true. We now know addiction is a medical condition involving brain chemicals that make it difficult to stop using a substance.
“Opioid” refers to a substance that has chemicals similar to those in the poppy plant. When used as a medication, opioids can be effective for treating acute and chronic pain (including hospice care) and do not often lead to addiction. Opioids can also be used to experience euphoria, what some people call a “high,” or to numb feelings or emotions. When used in this way, opioids are more likely to lead to addiction.
There are many opioid medications, such as Codeine, Vicodin, Demerol, Dilaudid, Morphine, OxyContin, and Percocet. Heroin and fentanyl are also opioids. Methadone and buprenorphine are also opioids.
Just as other health conditions are made better with medication, some substance use disorders get better with certain safe medications. This doesn’t mean that the medication cures the condition, but it does improve the lives of people who take it, similar to medications for thyroid, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other issues.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): There are two medications used to treat OUD that have the best evidence for reducing death and illness: buprenorphine combined with naloxone (known by the brand names Suboxone, Zubsolv, and Bunavail) and methadone. These medications can also improve a person’s quality of life with their relationships, employment, schooling, and independence. Another Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication is naltrexone-ER (known by the brand name Vivitrol).
Boulder Care primarily uses buprenorphine-naloxone as it is very effective and can be prescribed through telehealth, whereas methadone and naltrexone-ER typically need to be provided in an in-person setting.
Alcohol Use Disorder and Nicotine Use Disorder: Boulder focuses on treatment for opioid use disorder, but also helps participants with alcohol use disorder and/or nicotine use disorder, for which there are also effective medication treatments.
Many people wonder why buprenorphine is used to treat opioid addiction since it includes some of the same chemicals as heroin. Some people ask, “Isn’t this replacing one drug with another?” Medications used to treat addiction, including buprenorphine, are not just a “replacement.” The effects of these opioid medications are very different than, for example, an injection of heroin. These medications don’t produce a “high,” and instead, help people feel normal. They also dramatically reduce the risk of overdose.
The right dose is different for everyone. Our Care Teams are experienced in determining the best dose for your loved one.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines addiction recovery as:
“A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”
How each person defines their process of improved health and well-being is up to them.
At Boulder, we embrace the principle of “improved health and wellness.” Each participant’s Boulder Care Team is here to aid and guide them to move toward their substance use goals. One person might want to reduce their use of a substance or learn to use it more safely, while others might seek to stop using that substance entirely. Someone might want to stop using a particular substance, but to continue using other substances. We encourage individuals to set their own recovery goals based on what is most important to them.
As one of our Boulder Peer Coaches says, “Recovery isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.”
Thousands of people have been treated with medications for substance use disorders and have productively moved forward in their lives. Recovery is possible—and friends and family members can provide vital support to people pursuing recovery.
Some ways that you can support your loved one in recovery include:
Our mission is to improve the lives of people with substance use disorders. We provide medication, resources, and support to help our patients succeed on their own terms, wherever they are.