There are substance abuse programs available in or near Birchwood which service both methadone and buprenorphine clients only, drugs that are dispensed in what is called opioid maintenance therapy. Methadone is a full opioid agonist just like heroin, and buprenorphine is a partial agonist, which means the same nerve cell receptors that make a person feel high from heroin or prescription pain killers are activated by these two drugs so that an opioid dependent client will instead no longer engage in addict behavior and won't experience cravings and withdrawal. There are dangers with drug interactions, side effects, and even overdose with both buprenorphine and methadone, which is why they are heavily regulated and can only be administered in a clinical setting.
Methadone and buprenorphine clients take these medications regularly so they don't experience withdrawal symptoms, etc. but ideally at a dosage which isn't at the same time making them feel euphoria. Euphoria occurs at a high dosage, more so with methadone than buprenorphine. At clinics which treat methadone and buprenorphine clients only, actual rehabilitation activities and therapies are limited beyond this and the primary treatment objective is to address the physical symptoms of their dependence. Some clinics do provide a small amount of counseling and therapy as secondary services, and it is encouraged.
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