Due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic Miami Valley Recovery has taken steps to work with the Ohio Medicaid Plans on offering some services via Telemedicine. A telemedicine setup will require a few basic needs.

You will need:
1) a secure internet connection (phone or wifi)
2) a video platform (smart phone, tablet, or computer)
3) an Email address (Gmail, Yahoo, or any other option available)

Once you have these options in place you will need to go to the: Miami Valley Recovery Telemedicine page to setup your account: https://miamivalleyrecovery.zoom.us/

If you have not already please make sure you fill out your consent form at the office or you can sign it from our website under the "Telemedicine Informed Consent" page: https://www.miamivalleyrecovery.com/telemedicine-informed-consent.html

Please make sure you provide your email address to your counselor or at the front desk to update you client record.

We ask that all clients be patient with the staff, this is all new to everyone. We believe the the clients overall health and ongoing treatment is the most important to our agency.

Please feel free to contact Brittney with any questions you may have

Addiction to drugs is one of the leading reasons for the fall in the living standards of individuals and families. Drug addiction affects people’s lives in numerous ways. Whether it is their professional life or personal, it eventually hits the user after some time. Drugs directly affect the brain and the body. There are different types of drugs with different effects. The utilization of drugs results in severe health consequences, which at times are permanent and continue even after someone has stopped drug use.
Using drugs releases dopamine, this produces a buzz and gives the user a feeling of being intoxicated.  It changes how the brain works and causes extreme cravings. Continuous consumption of drugs overtime results in substance dependency and drug addiction. Even though it appears to be very difficult, but substance dependency is treatable.
Fighting addiction is a long and challenging process, but there are some medications that, when combined with behavioral therapy, increase the effectiveness of treatment, providing a decreased risk for relapse. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is one of the safest options available when it comes to the recovery of individuals from drug addiction. To treat the addiction to alcohol, opioids, and tobacco, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) has approved several medications. Medical-assisted treatments cannot be considered a replacement for behavioral therapy. The goal of medication-assisted treatment is to help the patient going through the detox process and reduce the chances of relapse.
Detoxification is usually the first stage of recovery. An individual in the recovery process may experience intense cravings even after completion of detox and treatment. MAT programs assist with a strong start to rehabilitation and curb the substance craving. It is essential to combine therapy with medication-assisted programs to make sure that the individual is not only treating withdrawal but also knows how to manage the cravings and triggers to maintain the longer sobriety periods. Patients receiving cognitive behavioral therapy paired with medication have shown better and more effective recovery than those who don’t. Common goals of behavioral treatments are to:

• Help the patients with the behaviors that may lead to misuse of the substance.
• Encourage them to stick to their prescribed medicines.
• Assist them in overcoming any other psychiatric disorders by conducting group or individual counselling, establishing support systems.

Medication assisted treatment improves outcomes by manifolds when combined with traditional treatment methods.
There are several medications used in MAT programs that help in treating addiction to two of the most common substances: alcohol and opioids. The usage of these substances causes physical dependence which results in withdrawal symptoms.
 
Medications Used in MAT Programs
Medicines used in Medication assisted treatment programs work by producing similar effects as opioids but milder and without euphoria or by totally blocking opioids' effect. This way, these medications help with withdrawal symptoms but do not supplement addiction if taken in the prescribed volume.
Methadone
Methadone is probably the most well-known medication used in the treatment of opioid addiction. It has been in use for decades to help in treating opioid addiction and treatment. Methadone is a full agonist, which means that it combines with the receptors in the brain and changes how the brain and body respond to pain. It doesn’t produce an elevated sense of euphoria, but milder effects, similar to opioid abuse. It reduces cravings and other painful withdrawal symptoms. When used as prescribed and under administered dosage during Medication assisted treatment, the patient doesn’t feel lethargic, and it also helps with reduced cravings. Methadone comes in pills, powder, and liquid form and is recommended once per day. To avoid the risk of overdosing, the dosage of methadone is usually built up slowly over time. Methadone can be highly addictive if not correctly administered.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It helps in reducing the withdrawal symptoms and curbs cravings. Though not a perfect fit, buprenorphine still binds to opioid receptors, which result in satisfying the cravings for opioids without producing euphoria. When directly administered, buprenorphine does not pose a risk of addiction, but its easy availability without prescription often results in misuse of the drug. A combination of Buprenorphine with Naloxone is used in Suboxone Treatment. This treatment is used for an extended time to avoid relapse.
Naloxone
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. It blocks the activity of the opioids at the receptors site. Due to this, the effects of an overdose can be reversed or stopped preventing fatal consequences. If someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, naloxone injection may be used. It is a usual practice for the patient and the family members to keep the naloxone injectors nearby in case of relapse after the program has ended.
Naltrexone
This medication is used in both the treatment of alcohol and opioid addiction. It blocks opioids receptors and helps in reducing the craving. Since it works by blocking the receptors, the user does not experience the usual high if the substance is consumed after taking the medication. It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully since the overdose of this drug can severely damage the liver. The medicine can be consumed orally or by injecting. Oral tablets are administered daily, while injectable forms are taken monthly.
Disulfiram
This medication discourages a person from consuming alcohol by causing unpleasant side effects such as sweating, flushing, headache, anxiety, blurred vision, and chest pain, etc. These effects usually appear within 10-30 minutes after the consumption of alcohol. The severity of the effect is related to the amount of alcohol consumed. Disulfiram can be combined with outpatient treatment and inpatient rehabilitation.
Acamprosate
To produce a feeling of calm, Acamprosate simulates the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors in the brain. The usage of this medication also reduces alcohol craving. Acamprosate is usually used combined with group therapy and by patients who have already stopped drinking or are in the process of doing so. It is a popular medication because it is safe for the liver and for the patients who are receiving opioid medications. Acamprosate is used in outpatient treatments as well.
 
MAT has proved to be an effective way to fight the addiction during the recovery process. Research shows that medication assisted treatment programs, when combined with non-medicated approaches, speed up the patient’s recovery process and help in decreasing the cravings. During the withdrawal period, these medications can also help a person with emotional, physical, and mental symptoms. Medication-Assisted Treatment programs create a strong support system from friends, family, and peers to kick start the patient’s recovery journey and help them get clean as soon as they can.

Visit our website at www.miamivalleyrecovery.com or call us at 937-401-8672 for more information about our medication assisted treatment program.

You’ve probably heard of Suboxone and Vivitrol before from your friends who have tried to recover from their addiction. Chances are, they have told you that it helped them and that you should try it. Before you run out to try one, it’s important that you understand what they are and how they work. This way you can make an informed decision whether it’s right for you.

Why People Can’t Stop Using Drugs
One of the reasons opioid addiction is so powerful is people feel like they can’t stop using the drug for fear of the pain of withdrawals. A person’s body becomes used to functioning with drugs, and when those drugs are no longer available, it doesn’t function normally. This causes people to feel extremely nauseous, experience the shakes, suffer from aches and pains, and many other uncomfortable symptoms. Instead of going through the agony of withdrawals, many people simply go back to their drug of choice despite all of the problems it has caused for them.

Does this sound like you? Do you want to recover, but you can’t deal with the withdrawals?

How to Overcome Withdrawals for Successful Recovery
Withdrawals don’t have to stand in your way of recovery. Medication assisted treatment with naltrexone (Vivitrol) or buprenorphine (Suboxone) can help.

Suboxone
Suboxone was the first DATA 2000 approved medication for the treatment of opioid addiction. The primary ingredient in Suboxone is buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist. The effects are limited compared to the ones with Oxycodone or heroin. In addition to buprenorphine, it also has naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist. This discourages people from dissolving and injecting it.
This medication is placed under the tongue. Only a small amount of naloxone makes it into the bloodstream, which means the person only feels buprenorphine effects. Those effects include:

• Decreased cravings
• Blocks the effects of opioids
• Suppresses withdrawal symptoms
• Reduces the use of opioids  

Suboxone ultimately helps people get over the worst part of starting recovery - the withdrawals. Since they can withdraw from their drug of choice without much discomfort, they are more likely to stay in treatment. 
Suboxone can be taken long term throughout the recovery process. When you’re ready, you can titrate off the medication, but it should always be under a medical professional’s supervision.

Vivitrol 
Vivitrol or naltrexone is approved by the FDA as an injectable medication to help with opioid addiction. It is an antagonist that reduces cravings for about a month. Due to it’s extended release, the medication is administered once a month during medication-assisted treatment. Continued use helps people through recovery by:

• Reducing cravings
• Relieving withdrawal symptoms
  
• Preventing overdose  

Vivitrol is not for everyone. Users must abstain from using opiates for at least 14 days before the first injection.
Vivitrol can also be taken long term. It is a recovery aide because it lowers the chances of relapse. When people are ready to stop taking Vivitrol, they must reduce their dosage gradually as instructed by a medical professional.
Differences Between Suboxone and Vivitrol 

In the first study based in the United States, researchers compared Suboxone and Vivitrol and found that they were similarly effective. Vivitrol is harder to use on people because of the detox period. This is why Suboxone is much more popular among those recovering from opioid addiction.
 
Effectiveness of Suboxone and Vivitrol 
Despite how effective medication assisted treatment is, these medications don’t work for everyone. Usually, it’s ineffective in the way of not reducing cravings or relieving withdrawal symptoms enough to keep people from self-medicating with their drug of choice. Many times, the answer for that is medically-supervised detox. This way a doctor, nurses, and other support staff can help people get through the most uncomfortable part of withdrawal to move forward towards the rest of the recovery process.
 
Controversy Surrounding Suboxone and Vivitrol for Recovery 
The most common argument against medication assisted treatment is that it is replacing one drug for another one. Critics say that it’s not recovery when you’re still using drugs every day. The defense to this is that while some people take Suboxone or Vivitrol for a long time, they do not suffer the same fate or consequences as they would if they continued to use opioids. People who use Suboxone or Vivitrol are able to put their life back together by getting a job and paying bills. They also don’t risk their lives to overdose. Relapse prevention is another benefit of the medications. Many studies have shown that the chances of relapse are much lower for those who use these medications throughout their recovery compared to those who don’t use them.  So, while these two drugs may be replacing the current drug of choice, the effects of them are much more positive.
 
How to Get Started 
Medication-assisted treatment is available to you if you truly want to recovery from your addiction. It has helped many people free themselves from addiction, and it can help you too. The only thing you need to do is take the first step. The first step is reaching out to Miami Valley Recovery.
Medication Assisted Treatment at Miami Valley Recovery 

Miami Valley Recovery is proud to offer Suboxone and Vivitrol to assist our patients during the detox process. Those who have tried Suboxone without success should consider Vivitrol with help during the detox phase (14 days) from our staff. We help our patients reduce the intensity of their withdrawal symptoms with pain relievers and keeping them well hydrated. With the right assistance, you can get through the 14-day detox and then continue on with Vivitrol.
 
Visit our website at www.miamivalleyrecovery.com or call us at 937-401-8672 for more information about our medication assisted treatment program.

Very Exciting News for our Medication Assisted Treatment program!

Coming in late April 2020 Miami Valley Recovery will now be offering Sober Living! Please contact us at 937-401-8672 or www.miamivalleyrecovery.com for more details.