Opioid Addiction Treatment in Knoxville

Opioid Rehab Center in Tennessee

In the United States, the opioid crisis has wreaked havoc in the lives of millions of individuals and families. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially declared the ongoing opioid crisis a public health emergency. According to HHS reports, approximately 10.3 million people in the U.S. abused prescription opioids and about 2 million likely had an opioid use disorder or addiction in 2018.

At Tennessee Wellness Center, our family of Knoxville drug abuse and addiction treatment specialists understands what you are going through because many of us have been in your shoes before. We offer a range of clinically-proven, evidence-based opioid addiction treatments in Knoxville at our welcoming, stigma-free facility. Our team is dedicated to helping you on the path to recovery, focusing on creating a united front with your family and loved ones and providing you with the critical tools you need to achieve long-term sobriety.

If you would like to learn more about our opioid addiction programs and treatments, please call us at (865) 205-2770 or contact us online today.

On This Page:

• What Are Opioids?
• What Is Opioid Addiction?
• Signs of Opioid Abuse & Addiction
• Risks & Side Effects of Opioid Abuse
• Opioid Addiction Treatments at Tennessee Wellness Center
• Paying for Opioid Addiction Treatment
• Take the First Step Toward Healing

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a type of pain medication prescribed by doctors in the United States. Frequently referred to as “painkillers,” opioids may be used in a hospital setting, treatment center, or prescribed to individuals to manage and treat acute or chronic pain.

Common opioids include:

• Oxycodone (Percocet®, OxyContin®)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
• Tramadol
• Fentanyl
• Codeine
• Morphine

What Is Opioid Addiction?

Like other types of drug abuse and addiction, opioid addiction is characterized by a compulsive desire to take opioids despite negative and/or harmful consequences. Opioid misuse and addiction can be difficult to detect in yourself or others because opioids are commonly prescribed to treat pain. As a result, people often do not recognize when approved opioid use has transitioned into misuse or abuse.

Opioid misuse may look like:

• Taking more than the prescribed dose of a prescription opioid
• Using a prescription opioid once pain has subsided to get high
• Attempting to (whether successfully or not) obtain multiple prescriptions
• Making efforts to obtain multiple refills once a prescription has run out
• Taking someone else’s prescribed opioids
• Ingesting an altered opioid or using a medication in a non-prescribed manner
• Using any non-prescription opioid, such as heroin

Sadly, many people become addicted to opioids after receiving them in the hospital in conjunction with medical treatments, such as surgeries. Opioids are highly addictive, and misuse or abuse can quickly lead to increased tolerance, dependency, and addiction.

Signs of Opioid Abuse & Addiction

Opioids are highly addictive and dangerous. Side effects may include sedation, sleepiness, incoherence, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and slowed breathing, among others. The leading cause of opioid-related deaths is overdose, a serious condition in which an individual ingests a lethal dose.

Whether you recognize signs of opioid misuse in yourself or are concerned about a loved one, it is important that you are able to recognize the signs of opioid abuse and addiction:

• Taking opioids when not in serious pain or not in pain at all
• Taking or “borrowing” others’ medications
• Buying prescription opioids from someone else
• Feeling a need to stockpile a “backup” supply/attempting to obtain multiple prescriptions
• Using prescription opioids in any way not prescribed
• Lying about opioid/medication use.
• Urgently wanting or needing to take opioids
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not taking opioids
• Becoming more secretive and/or combative about one’s behavior
• Poor decision-making and disregard for risks associated with one’s behavior or actions
• Putting oneself or others in danger
• Stealing prescriptions, money, and other items
• Frequent unexplained disappearances, sometimes for days at a time
• Unusual changes in mood or behavior

Often, opioid addiction occurs alongside various behavioral and mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Symptoms of poor mental health that co-occur with signs of drug abuse or addiction are common.

Risks & Side Effects of Opioid Abuse

As mentioned before, opioid abuse carries serious health risks, the greatest of which is death by overdose. One of the primary physical side effects of opioid use is slowed respiratory functioning, meaning a person who takes too great a dose can stop breathing completely. Overdose risk increases with time as a person builds a stronger tolerance, requiring greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same effects.

Other common side effects of opioid use include:

• Increased sensitivity to pain
• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Drowsiness and dizziness
• Confusion
• Depression
• Lower sex drive
• Itching and sweating

Opioid Addiction Treatments at Tennessee Wellness Center

Opioid addiction affects not only the individual but the entire family unit. At Tennessee Wellness Center, we recognize the immense impact this has on your life and the lives of your loved ones. Our goal is to provide support for those battling addiction, as well as their families.

We offer a range of effective opioid addiction treatments in Knoxville at our welcoming, stigma-free facility. Because stopping opioid use completely can lead to serious health risks, we may recommend an appropriate detox center where you or your loved one can receive 24-hour support before beginning one of our programs.

Our opioid abuse and addiction treatments include:

• Partial hospitalization programs
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Individual and group therapy
• Behavioral and mental health assessment and treatment
• Skill development and relapse prevention
• Aftercare and sober living

We recognize that opioid addiction affects everyone differently. Because of this, we provide equally unique treatment programs. Our goal is to provide the support you need throughout each stage of your recovery and ensure you have the tools and skills you need to effectively lead a healthy, happy, and productive life.

Paying for Opioid Addiction Treatment

At Tennessee Wellness Center, we believe that opioid addiction treatment shouldn't have to break the bank. Our intake coordinators are well-versed in the nuances of insurance and can help each client understand what their plan will and won't cover.

We proudly work with a wide range of major insurance providers, including:

• Cigna
• Aetna
• BlueCross BlueShield
• Humana
• MultiPlan

Contact Us Today & Take the First Step Toward Healing

At Tennessee Wellness Center, we understand how difficult it is simply to recognize that you or a loved one may be struggling with opioid misuse or addiction. Seeking more information is an important and commendable first step in the recovery process.

If you would like to learn more about our Knoxville opioid rehab center, our drug abuse treatments and programs, or how our family of addiction specialists can help you heal, please do not hesitate to reach out to us today. A friendly and compassionate member of our team can provide you with more information and guide you through the initial intake and admissions process.

Call us at (865) 205-2770 or get in touch with us via our online contact form.