Comprehensive Opitate Recovery Program

Chronic opioid dependence is a long-term addiction to heroin or other opiate drugs. The modality most frequently used at the Life Center involves administration of the medication Methadone or LAAM as a portion of the total treatment program.

Our Comprehensive Opiate Recovery Program is designed to access and treat the individual at the most appropriate level of care. Levels of care include inpatient detoxification utilizing a methadone taper and involving participation in treatment activities.

Outpatient detoxification is a slower detox and involves daily visits to our clinic for dosing, counseling, treatment planning and goals. Our maintenance program is a long-term program which also includes methadone dosing, as well as counseling treatment planning and goals.

How does it work?

Our programs stress a complete program beginning with a thorough assessment by our physician, counselors, and nurses. From these assessments, a counselor will work with the patient to design a treatment plan for recovery. Individual and group counseling, as well as, education will be an integral part of this program.

For the maintenance program, patients may also be referred to other resources within their community to assist with employment, financial aid, legal aid, medical issues, or other counseling not related to addiction. Also, take-home medications may be allowed as indicated by state and federal guidelines, but only if the patient is meeting the requirements of the program.

Goals of the Program

Our goal is a complete recovery from the ravages of addiction. Therefore, in order for the program to be effective, participation in all aspects of the treatment is expected. Although the Life Center is a program based on the treatment principles of abstinence, we also understand that opiate replacement programs are appropriate and clinically indicated in some instances. Therefore, success may also be defined as continuing participation and compliance with the ongoing treatment. It is also worth noting that opiate replacement therapy programs are often a transitional step in treatment, with only 5% to 20%, or a minority of maintenance patients, remaining in these programs for life.