August is an important time to remember the lives affected by drug overdose, support families and communities impacted by addiction, and share information that can help prevent future overdose deaths.
For people struggling with opioid use disorder, overdose prevention involves more than recognizing an emergency. Access to effective opioid addiction treatment can play an important role in reducing risk and helping people move toward long-term recovery.
At True North Recovery and Wellness Center, we provide outpatient opioid addiction treatment for individuals in Salt Lake City and surrounding Utah communities. Our approach combines Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), counseling, behavioral support, and individualized care to help people stabilize their lives and move forward in recovery.
Understanding Opioid Overdose
An opioid overdose occurs when opioids overwhelm the body’s ability to function normally, particularly its ability to breathe. Prescription opioids, heroin, fentanyl, and other opioid substances can all contribute to overdose.
An overdose can happen to anyone who uses opioids, but certain circumstances may increase risk. These can include returning to opioid use after a period of abstinence or reduced use, using opioids from an unpredictable illicit drug supply, taking opioids with other substances that suppress breathing, or having a previous history of overdose.
Knowing the warning signs can save a life.
Signs of a Possible Opioid Overdose
Signs may include:
- Inability to wake up or respond
- Very slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Choking, gurgling, or unusual snoring sounds in someone who cannot be awakened
- Small, constricted “pinpoint” pupils
- Discoloration of the lips, nails, or skin
If you believe someone may be experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 immediately. If naloxone is available, administer it according to its instructions. Try to keep the person breathing, place them on their side when appropriate to reduce the risk of choking, and stay with them until emergency help arrives.
Naloxone and Overdose Prevention
Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose when administered in time. Having naloxone available can be especially important for people who use opioids and their family members, friends, and others who may be present during an emergency.
Naloxone is an emergency intervention, however. Preventing future overdoses also means addressing opioid use disorder itself.
For someone experiencing opioid addiction, entering evidence-based treatment can be one of the most important steps toward reducing overdose risk.
How Medication Assisted Treatment Supports Recovery
Medication Assisted Treatment is an evidence-based approach to opioid use disorder that uses medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone as part of a comprehensive recovery plan.
MAT medications work in different ways, but depending on the medication and individual, treatment can help reduce cravings, manage withdrawal symptoms, or block the effects of opioids. By helping people achieve greater stability, treatment creates an opportunity to focus on counseling, behavioral changes, relationships, employment, health, and other recovery goals.
Medication treatment for opioid use disorder has been associated with a reduced risk of overdose and overall mortality. Treatment should be individualized because there is no single medication or recovery path that is right for everyone.
MAT Options at True North Recovery and Wellness Center
True North offers several medication options for individuals receiving treatment for opioid use disorder.
Methadone Maintenance
Methadone is a long-acting medication that can reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. When used for opioid use disorder, methadone is provided through appropriately certified opioid treatment programs.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine, including medications such as Suboxone®, is a partial opioid agonist that can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms while supporting greater stability in everyday life.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone, including extended-release Vivitrol®, works differently from methadone and buprenorphine. It is an opioid antagonist that blocks opioid receptors. Because a period without opioids is generally required before starting naltrexone, patients should discuss whether this medication is appropriate with a qualified healthcare provider.
The right medication depends on an individual’s health, opioid use history, circumstances, and recovery goals. Treatment decisions should be made between the patient and their medical provider.
Treatment Is More Than Medication
Medication can be a powerful part of opioid addiction treatment, but recovery involves the whole person.
At True North Recovery and Wellness Center, medication treatment is supported by counseling and behavioral services. These services can help individuals identify triggers, strengthen coping skills, improve decision-making, address patterns associated with substance use, and establish goals for a healthier future.
True North’s outpatient services include:
- Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Methadone maintenance
- Buprenorphine treatment
- Naltrexone/Vivitrol treatment
- Individual and group counseling
- General outpatient programs
- Substance use assessments
- Drug testing and monitoring
- Community-based services
This combination of medical and behavioral support allows individuals to work on both the immediate challenges of opioid dependence and the longer-term changes associated with recovery.
Reducing the Stigma Around Opioid Addiction
Overdose Awareness Month is also an opportunity to change how we talk about addiction.
Opioid use disorder is a treatable medical condition. Stigma can make people reluctant to tell others they are struggling or seek professional treatment. Judgment can create another barrier at exactly the moment someone needs help.
Supporting recovery means treating people with dignity and recognizing that asking for help is a meaningful step toward change.
The same principle applies to Medication Assisted Treatment. Taking an appropriately prescribed medication for opioid use disorder is not a failure of recovery. For many individuals, medication is an important part of evidence-based treatment.
Overdose Prevention Starts Before an Emergency
Naloxone and knowing the signs of overdose can save a life during an emergency. But overdose prevention should also happen long before an emergency occurs.
That can mean encouraging someone to seek treatment, making naloxone readily available, talking openly about overdose risks, supporting people already in recovery, and helping individuals stay engaged in evidence-based treatment.
For someone living with opioid use disorder, treatment can provide a path away from the cycle of withdrawal, cravings, opioid use, and overdose risk.
Opioid Addiction Treatment in Salt Lake City, Provo and St. George
True North Recovery and Wellness Center provides structured outpatient opioid treatment for individuals in the Salt Lake City area. As a CARF-accredited substance use disorder treatment program, True North combines evidence-based medications with counseling, accountability, and individualized support.
Recovery does not happen the same way for everyone. The goal is to help each person find an appropriate treatment plan and build the stability needed to move forward.
Make Overdose Awareness a Starting Point
Overdose Awareness Month reminds us of the devastating impact opioid addiction can have on individuals, families, and communities. It can also remind us that there are practical steps we can take to save lives.
Learn the signs of an opioid overdose. Carry naloxone. Call 911 during an overdose emergency. Reduce stigma. Encourage treatment. Support recovery.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with opioid addiction in Salt Lake City, you don’t have to wait for an overdose or another crisis before seeking treatment.
True North Recovery and Wellness Center provides Medication Assisted Treatment, counseling, and outpatient recovery services designed to help individuals find stability and build a healthier future.
Recovery is possible. Treatment can begin today.