Key Takeaways
- Opioid and prescription drug addiction is a treatable medical condition. Many people never set out to misuse anything, and it often began with a legitimate prescription or a way to cope before dependence became obvious.
- Illicit fentanyl, not prescription opioids, now drives U.S. opioid deaths, with 72,776 deaths involving synthetic opioids compared with 13,026 involving prescription opioids in 2023.
- Signs include taking more than prescribed, needing higher doses, withdrawal symptoms when stopping, running out early or seeking pills from multiple sources, and continuing despite harm or failed attempts to quit.
- Opioid withdrawal is rarely life threatening on its own, but overdose is the bigger danger, especially after a break in use lowers tolerance. Supervised detox is usually the safe first step, with naloxone on hand.
- Outpatient care combines individual and group therapy with medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine and naltrexone. Treating the chronic pain, trauma, anxiety, or depression underneath the opioid use helps prevent relapse.
Opioid and prescription drug addiction includes dependence on heroin, fentanyl, prescription painkillers, and misused sedatives or stimulants. It is a treatable medical condition, but opioid withdrawal can be severe, so a medically supervised detox usually comes first. After stabilization, outpatient care and our flagship Individualized Intensive Programming in Houston help you build a recovery that holds. For program details, schedules, and admissions, see opioid addiction treatment in Houston.
Many people with opioid or prescription addiction never set out to misuse anything. It started with a legitimate prescription, or a way to cope, and tightened into dependence before it was obvious. That is the nature of these drugs, and it is exactly why no one should feel ashamed about needing help to stop.
What Are the Signs of Opioid or Prescription Drug Addiction?
- Taking more than prescribed, or using someone else’s medication
- Needing higher doses for the same effect
- Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, aches, anxiety, or insomnia when you stop
- Running out early, doctor shopping, or seeking pills from multiple sources
- Continuing despite harm to health, work, or relationships
- Failed attempts to cut down or quit
Is Opioid Withdrawal Dangerous?
Opioid withdrawal is rarely life threatening on its own, but it is intensely uncomfortable, and the bigger danger is overdose, especially with fentanyl in the drug supply and the loss of tolerance after any break in use. If you are physically dependent, the safe first step is a medically supervised detox, which we help coordinate. We strongly encourage having naloxone (Narcan) on hand, and we will talk with you about it openly.
How Does Outpatient Treatment Work?
Once you are medically stable, outpatient care lets you treat the addiction while living at home. Care combines individual therapy with group work, including Relapse Prevention, Addiction Education, Shame Resilience, and skills groups in CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing. We are an out-of-network outpatient program, and medication is part of what we offer. We provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone through medication management, and we coordinate MAT with your prescriber so it works alongside your therapy rather than separately from it. We do not provide medical detox or methadone on site. When detox is needed first, we help arrange it and stay connected through the handoff so your care is not fragmented.
Confidential Next Step
Ready to stop, but worried about withdrawal?
One confidential call with our Houston team can help you map a safe path, starting with detox if you need it.
What Has to Be Treated Underneath?
Opioid use is often tangled with chronic pain, trauma, anxiety, or depression. Treating only the drug, without what drives it, is why people relapse. Our dual diagnosis care treats both, and a strong relapse prevention plan protects the highest-risk early months.
What Makes Individualized Programming Different for Opioid Recovery?
Recovery from opioids is personal, and a one-size program rarely fits. Our flagship Individualized Intensive Programming builds the plan around your history and any co-occurring conditions, at PHP or IOP intensity.
When Does Opioid Withdrawal Require Medical Care First?
Active withdrawal, overdose risk, or significant medical or psychiatric crisis needs a higher level of care first, and we will say so and help you find it. For non-clinical support, our sister practice Heights Mentoring may be a fit.
Heights Behavioral Health is a private-pay, out-of-network provider, and we are clear about pricing before you commit to anything. See how cost and out-of-network benefits work.
If this is an emergency or you are thinking about harming yourself, call 911, or call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In Harris County, The Harris Center operates a 24-hour crisis line at 713-970-7000. Heights Behavioral Health is an outpatient program and is not a 24-hour crisis service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I watch for during opioid withdrawal?
Opioid withdrawal is rarely life threatening on its own but can be intensely uncomfortable, and a medically supervised detox is the safe way through. The greater danger is overdose, especially after any drop in tolerance, which is why we encourage having naloxone available.
Do you offer MAT, detox, or methadone?
We do offer medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone, and we coordinate MAT as part of your outpatient care. We do not provide medical detox or methadone on site. When detox is needed first, we help arrange it and stay connected through the handoff so your treatment is not fragmented.
Do you take insurance?
We are private pay and out of network, and not in network with any plan. If withdrawal needs medical care first, we will say so and help you find it, and we are clear about what our part costs before you commit. Superbills are available for plans with out-of-network benefits.
Can prescription addiction be treated outpatient?
Yes, often after a supervised detox if there is physical dependence. Outpatient care provides structured therapy and support while you live at home.
What if my opioid use started with chronic pain?
That is common and important. We treat the addiction while coordinating around legitimate pain needs, and we address the trauma, anxiety, or depression that often accompany it.
A Safe, Connected Path to Recovery
From detox coordination to outpatient care built around you, recovery from opioids is possible. One confidential call is the first step.
Sources
Written and Reviewed by Licensed Clinicians
Joni Ogle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) with over 37 years of clinical experience in mental health and addiction recovery, dual diagnosis treatment, behavioral addictions, and family intervention. She is the founder of Heights Behavioral Health and Heights Mentoring in Houston, Texas, where she leads a team of licensed clinicians.
Texas LCSW #37376 · Verify license
Deborah Darnell-Drake, LCSW-S, ACSW, LMFT is the Chief Clinical Officer at Heights Behavioral Health and a clinical reviewer. With more than five decades of experience in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, Deborah specializes in addiction, co-occurring mental health conditions, family dynamics, and behavioral addictions including gambling and technology addiction.
Texas LCSW-S #14508 · LMFT #1125 · Verify license
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