In part 6 of Dr. Banimahd and Dr. Peter Coleman’s interview, they discuss how you can detox off opioids with naltrexone as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) versus using Suboxone.
If you missed part 5, you can read more about what you need to be ready to complete an Opioid Detox with naltrexone therapy here.
Explore the recap of Dr. Peter Coleman’s YouTube video, “Dr. B interviews Dr. Coleman about the Coleman Method for Opioid Detox and Naltrexone MAT” here.
Navigating Post Detox
Dr. Banimahd
Any thoughts or recommendations? What do you think about post-procedure treatment intervention, psychosocial or medical? What is it that you recommend to patients? I have my own little thing, which is different from yours.
More like this: Healing the Brain After Opioid Detox and Withdrawal
Dr. Peter Coleman
Yeah. So, it’s not rocket science. It’s pretty straightforward. Dr. Robert DuPont has studied doctors who went through rehab as I did. The success rate is about 92% 5-year success, whether on opioids, heroin, fentanyl, alcohol, or cocaine.
Dr. Banimahd
Did he study doctors?
Dr. Peter Coleman
Yeah. Phenomenal success rate. And when you look at that program’s features, I wish everybody could get that program because the 92% success rate is unprecedented. It was about 78% with no slipups and then another 16 odd percent with one short relapse 5 years later. So what they find is that it’s extended treatment upfront.
Getting Therapy for Post Detox
Dr. Peter Coleman
So, usually, 3 or 4 months of pretty intensive therapy can be an IOP. This therapy is terrific if they live in a halfway house with a lot of structure and stuff so they don’t mess up.
There’s complete abstinence. So it’s a program where there’s no alcohol, no pot, no addictive drugs going in the brain, just substituting one for another.
So it’s, it’s accepting the fact that you’ve got the disease of addiction. You’re not just a cocaine addict or an alcoholic. You’ve got this chemical dependency problem that you need to be off of everything and learn how to live. So there’s intensive therapy, and then there’s follow-up with urine drug screens and stuff like that. And almost everybody had to go to some support group, like 12 Step, AA or NA, or Smart Recovery or something like that.
Abstinence-Based Model For Long-Term Recovery
Dr. Peter Coleman
So really, it’s a good treatment upfront abstinence-based model and support groups and some ongoing therapy. You have to get the chemicals out of your brain at the end of the day. Most people use drugs because they want to be satisfied, you know? And they think the drugs give it to them. “Oh, I don’t feel as shy or nervous. My life’s exciting.” You’ve got to find those things in recovery without putting some chemicals in. And it just takes time to do that.
Dr. Banimahd
So you’re not dismissing the importance of long-term recovery and psychosocial intervention.
Dr. Peter Coleman
I believe it’s essential.
Dr. Banimahd
You do the procedure.
Dr. Peter Coleman
They need to learn how to be happy.
Dr. Banimahd
Right.
Dr. Peter Coleman
That doesn’t happen right away. It happens because you put in the work, not because you wish it into existence.
More like this: Taking the First Step in Your Recovery Journey
Dr. Banimahd
It is a lot of hard work.
Dr. Peter Coleman
Yes.
Conclusion
Stay tuned for Part 7 of Dr. Peter Coleman and Dr. Banimahd’s interview on the Coleman Network for Addiction Medicine on Facebook and Twitter.
Looking for the rest of the webinar series? Check out parts 1-5 below:
