Research analyzed by David Eddie, Phd. and Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, shows that three out of four addicted persons recover. While there is still an epidemic of opioid addiction in the US, people are highly likely to seek treatment or recovery. Some are even able to stop without medical intervention.

SAMHSA’s Definition of Recovery defines it as:

A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.

Addiction Is Getting More Deadly

According to new federal data, during the years 2020 to 2021, the height of the pandemic, 101,000 Americans died of drug overdoses. Many of these overdoses involved accidental use of fentanyl. Others were overdoses of opioids and an increase in crystal meth usage. People addicted to fentanyl also caused a rise in overdose.

During the pandemic, there was also a small percentage of people that were in recovery, yet sadly relapsed and suffered overdoses. These stories are mostly anecdotal, but they have happened around the country. First-time drugs users, often young, have also been buying pills off the internet. Usually, the pills are counterfeit and instead contain fentanyl and other drugs. An inexperienced pill user can’t tolerate such powerful opioids.

Research Shows Addicted People Need Support

People who seek help, especially therapy and medication-assisted treatment, tend to be motivated to create a positive set of changes in their life. In treatment, people learn a lot about themselves, their motivations, and how substance use disorder plays a role in their lives. Addicted people deserve medical help for their disorder.

Learning new coping skills is also a key to recovering from addiction. Picking up the phone or going out to spend time with sober friends is a positive way that people in recovery cope. Addiction can take the place of friends, family or therapy. When a person starts getting sober, they learn to value relationships, especially their relationship with themselves.

Getting Help for Opioid Addiction

Medication-Assisted Treatment is also one of the most important ways that addiction research has benefitted people with opioid use disorder. Medications like suboxone or methadone help keep cravings at bay while the person focuses on recovery.

Therapy, and support group meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous also have an important role to play in recovery. Support groups can be a survival tool for people new to recovery who aren’t sure what their next steps in life will be. Hanging out with people who have similar goals and values can guide people toward healing from addiction.

Look through our directory to learn more about treatment options.