Vivitrol is a prescribed medication used to prevent relapse in opiate addicts. While Vivitrol is typically recommended as part of a more comprehensive program of recovery, there are those who take the drug in hopes of avoiding all forms of supplemental treatment. This drug works to block the effects of opioid painkillers and other narcotics, eliminating the typically evoked feelings of pleasure, relaxation, and euphoria that all too often lead to physical and psychological dependency. Vivitrol is injected into individuals who are struggling with opioid dependency, relieving them from the severe physical cravings that typically lead to relapse. Interestingly enough, Vivitrol has also proven beneficial in reducing cravings in alcoholics. Those who are injected with the drug have experienced a decreased urge to drink, which could potentially lead to a reduction in the frequency and intensity of alcohol consumption. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that Vivitrol injection is not a cure for alcoholism or drug addiction. This, unfortunately, is where most addicts run into major problems.
Vivitrol and Drug Addiction
Many individuals who have suffered extensively from the widespread consequences of substance dependency have greatly benefitted from this ‘miracle shot’. Hundreds of men and women, however, claim that without the help of Vivitrol, they may not have been able to stay clean. And then there are those tried and true AA-goers that shun the drug entirely, sticking firmly to the belief that overcoming addiction is entirely possible with but the assistance of a higher power. The prevalence of the drug and its role in recovery communities throughout the United States has certainly become a hot topic of controversy. Many individuals who remain relatively uneducated on the subject immediately condemn the drug without proper investigation, assuming that it must be something like methadone or Suboxone – which we all know now are not necessarily as miraculous as they were once considered to be.
The Difference Between Vivitrol and Methadone
Methadone is an opioid itself, as is Suboxone. Addicts can use these ‘maintenance drugs’ to get high, and many become addicted rather rapidly. Vivitrol, on the other hand, dulls the receptors within the brain so that users do not experience frequent or intense cravings – and so that they will not get high even when they attempt to take opioids. Vivitrol cannot be abused, and it is not being sold on the streets or underground. It is administered by a medical professional once a month in a shot form, disallowing addicts from overdoing it or personally grappling with the idea of taking a daily pill or sublingual in order to stay clean. It is crucial to keep in mind the fact that this drug is not intended as a long-term treatment plan. Those who take Vivitrol will only take it temporarily, and are strongly encouraged to begin actively participating in a 12-step program as soon as possible. Addiction recovery is a lifelong process, and while some may benefit from an extra push in the right direction, setting a solid and lasting foundation for sobriety begins with intense therapeutic care and inner healing.
