Vivitrol is a brand-name medication used in treating opioid addiction. The generic name for Vivitrol is naltrexone, which is an opioid agonist. That means it blocks opioid receptors in the brain. It is an alternative to methadone or Suboxone, two other commonly-used medications during recovery from opioid addiction. Vivitrol treatment for addiction is not a solution in and of itself. Instead, it can be an important component of a larger addiction treatment plan.
Contact 866.931.6429 to learn more about the Vivitrol treatment program at Evoke Wellness at Cohasset.
The Need for Vivitrol Treatment for Addiction in Massachusetts
Before going into the full details of Vivitrol and how it is used during recovery, it’s essential to lay out the current public health situation in Massachusetts. While many areas of the country have recovered or rebounded from the worst of the opioid epidemic, Massachusetts continues to bear witness to high levels of overdose and death resulting from opioid abuse.
Recent data indicates that Massachusetts suffers more than twice the opioid death rate compared to the national average. Almost 30 Massachusetts residents per 100,000 die an opioid-related death annually. That massively outpaces the national average of approximately 13 per 100,000. The death rates among Black and Hispanic residents also outpace the national average, which belies statistics in other states that emphasize opioid-related deaths among the white population.
Regardless of race or ethnicity, opioids cause the vast majority of drug-related deaths each year in Massachusetts. Much of the issue boils down to a specific type of opioid. The problem is less related to prescription opioids. Nowadays, fentanyl is the biggest culprit. It is a synthetic opioid that is hundreds of times more potent than a prescription opioid. This context points to a severe need for high-quality opioid addiction treatment. Vivitrol treatment for addiction thus has an important role to play in helping the residents of Massachusetts recover from addiction.
What Is Vivitrol Treatment for Addiction?
Vivitrol is a medication that can be dispensed as part of treating opioid addiction. As an opioid agonist, Vivitrol binds to opioid receptors in the brain. It thus blocks opioids from having an effect. This can help cut down on withdrawal symptoms and reduce drug cravings.
Most of the time, people receive Vivitrol as a monthly injection. As a result, Vivitrol is straightforward to use during addiction treatment. It is not a daily pill that needs to be remembered or that could be misused. It is always dispensed under medical supervision and lasts for an entire month. This means the rest of recovery is prioritized as the medication helps people avoid relapse.
Vivitrol can cause some mild side effects. They are often most present when Vivitrol is first used and tend not to last for more than a few days. Vivitrol side effects include:
- Minor swelling, redness, or pain at the injection site
- Cold of flu-like symptoms
- Sleep issues
- Toothaches
- Headaches
Beyond these minor side effects, Vivitrol doesn’t have any downsides. Nonetheless, Vivitrol may not be the right option for everyone. To use Vivitrol, a person needs to be opioid-free for at least two weeks. If someone were to use Vivitrol without having at least two weeks of sobriety, they would immediately enter opioid withdrawal. Moreover, people at high risk of relapse may not be a good fit for Vivitrol treatment. Since Vivitrol essentially stops opioids from working, someone on Vivitrol who does use opioids may accidentally overdose because a small amount won’t have an effect.
Access Evoke’s Vivitrol Clinic in Massachusetts
Find help with your opioid addiction at Evoke’s Vivitrol clinic in Massachusetts. Our comprehensive evaluation and caring professionals are here to set you up with a personalized treatment plan that prioritizes your recovery needs. Find out more about Vivitrol treatment for addiction by calling 866.931.6429.
