Beginer Case
Essay by Paul • March 20, 2012 • Essay • 443 Words (2 Pages) • 1,322 Views
Bring ALL medication bottles with you to your 1st appointment.
Before you can be seen by the doctor, all of your paperwork must be completed, so bring all your completed forms with you or arrive about 30 minutes early. In addition, you will need to pay the doctor's fees prior to treatment.
Urine drug screening is a regular feature of BUPRENORPHINE therapy, because it provides physicians with important insights into your health and your treatment. Your 1st visit will include urine drug screening, and may also entail a Breathalyzer®* test and blood work. If you haven't had a recent physical exam, your doctor may require one either now or soon afterwards. To help ensure that BUPRENORPHINE is the best treatment option for you, the doctor will perform a substance dependence assessment and mental status evaluation. In addition, you and your physician will discuss BUPRENORPHINE treatment, what it involves, and what your expectations of treatment are.
After this initial intake, your doctor will give you a dose of BUPRENORPHINE. Your response to the medication will be evaluated after 1 hour and possibly again after 2 hours. Once the doctor is comfortable with your response, you will be allowed to go home. The doctor will schedule your next visit and give you directions for taking your medication at home. In addition, you will receive instructions on how to contact your doctor in case of emergency, as well as information about your treatment.
Opioid dependence is a disease in which there are biological or physical, psychological, and social changes. Some of the physical changes include the need for increasing amounts of opioid to produce the same effect, symptoms of withdrawal, feelings of craving, and changes in sleep patterns. Psychological components of opioid dependence include a reliance on heroin or other drugs to help you cope with everyday problems or inability to feel good or celebrate without using heroin or opioids. The social components of opioid dependence include less frequent contact with important people in your life, and an inability to participate in important events due to drug use. In extreme cases, there may even be criminal and legal implications
The hallmarks of opioid dependence are the continued use of drugs despite their negative affect, the need for increasing amounts of opioids to have the same effect and the development of withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.
There are a variety of factors than can contribute to the continued use of opioids. Among these are the use of heroin to escape from or cope with problems, the need to use increasing amounts of heroin to achieve the same effect, and the need for a "high."
Treatment
Treatment for opioid dependence is best considered a long-term process.
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