A Methadone Clinic Locator Saved My Life

People who become addicted to heroin, unfortunately, die every day. I was almost one of them. But I was able to find treatment through a methadone clinic locator. Call 800-994-1867Who Answers? now if you or someone you love is suffering from opioid addiction and needs help.

My Heroin Addiction Could Have Killed Me

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2015, more than 12,000 people died of heroin overdoses. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I could have been one of these people.

I started using prescription opioids when I was younger because they were easily accessible. I liked the way I felt when I got high, but over time, I needed stronger and stronger doses to experience the same effects. Eventually, I turned to heroin, but the same issue persisted. I kept using more and more of the drug each time, which put me at high risk for overdose.

Finally, my parents came to me and begged me to seek help. I didn’t want to, but they were terrified for my health. The problem was we didn’t know where to look for treatment because we didn’t know anyone who had been through the same thing. We knew there were rehab centers around the country, but we didn’t have the money for me to travel to another state.

Help from a Treatment Locator

Clinic locators can help you find affordable treatment near you!

Then, we found an answer. My mom found a treatment locator online. We were able to search for rehab centers and clinics near us and find outpatient programs that were less expensive than 24-hour inpatient centers. I needed to start taking methadone and begin therapy, but I had my parents to look after me when I wasn’t in treatment. We were able to save money by finding an outpatient clinic close to us.

The locator had a phone number, a map to the facility, and other information. We were able to call and get help right away. The person who answered told us what the program provided to patients as well as which insurance plans they took. He also talked to us about my history of substance abuse and ensured that methadone maintenance was the right fit for my recovery. I was able to start treatment right away.

Methadone Maintenance Saved Me in Many Ways

When I began methadone maintenance, I was skeptical. How could taking a drug every day be any different than what I was already doing? But my doctor was patient and explained how the methadone would block the receptors in my brain that craved opioids, allowing me to function without the desire to use and without getting high.

Methadone maintenance also helped me because it treated my withdrawal and addiction simultaneously. With the help of behavioral therapies, methadone can treat the symptoms of addiction, for which many people do not seek help. In fact, most opioid overdose deaths occur in those who have just gone through withdrawal but haven’t been treated properly for their addictions (National Library of Medicine).

How to Use Our Methadone Clinic Locator

Once you’ve decided to attend treatment at a methadone clinic, you will likely have already researched this particular type of …

Why I Couldn’t Have Recovered Alone

Having the help of my parents and my friends was extremely important to my recovery, but I know I wouldn’t have been able to recover without the proper treatment. If I hadn’t been on medication, I would have wanted to go back to using heroin, and I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself. And without therapy, I wouldn’t have learned how to avoid triggers and cope with cravings.

I felt the most afraid when I didn’t know where to turn for treatment. It’s strange to think about it now, but there are so many facilities all over the country that help people in my exact situation and I didn’t even know about them. I’m glad my mom found one close to us through the treatment locator because I really did believe I wouldn’t be able to afford or find treatment for my addiction.

Treatment Programs Are Closer Than You Think

It isn’t safe to try and recover from any type of opioid abuse or addiction syndrome without professional help. You can find safe, reliable treatment now by visiting the clinic locator page or by calling 800-994-1867Who Answers?. It is possible to change your life for the better.