Substance Abuse Treatment
Opioid Addiction
Heroin, prescription painkillers, and everything in between.
Understanding This Addiction
Opioid addiction develops when repeated use of opioids — whether prescription painkillers, heroin, or synthetic opioids — changes brain chemistry, creating physical dependency and intense cravings. This can happen to anyone, including patients who started with a legitimate prescription following surgery or injury and found themselves unable to stop.
Opioid use disorder is a medical condition, not a moral failing, and it's one of the most treatable substance use disorders when medication-assisted treatment is part of the plan.
Risk Factors
- Prior prescription for opioid pain medication, particularly after surgery or injury
- Chronic pain conditions
- History of trauma or untreated mental health conditions
- Family history of addiction
- Access to opioids through prescription or other sources
Signs & Symptoms
- Taking more opioids than intended, or for longer than intended
- Inability to cut down despite wanting to
- Withdrawal symptoms — nausea, sweating, muscle aches, anxiety — when not using
- Continued use despite negative consequences to work, relationships, or health
- Cravings that interfere with daily functioning
How We Evaluate It
We conduct a thorough medical and substance use evaluation to understand your specific pattern of use, any co-occurring conditions, and your overall health, building a treatment plan around your full situation rather than the addiction alone.
Our Treatment Approach
Opioid use disorder responds especially well to medication-assisted treatment paired with counseling.
- Medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine or naltrexone-based medications
- Individual and group counseling addressing the behavioral side of addiction
- Coordination with primary care and psychiatry as needed
- Overdose prevention education and naloxone access
What to Expect
Many patients experience significant reduction in cravings and withdrawal within days of starting MAT, allowing them to engage more fully in counseling and rebuild stability in daily life.
Recovery is an ongoing process, and treatment plans — including medication duration — are adjusted collaboratively as your situation evolves.
Frequently Asked Questions
I started using opioids after a legitimate prescription — does that change anything?
No — this is one of the most common paths into opioid addiction, and it's treated with the same evidence-based approach regardless of how the addiction started.
What if I've relapsed before?
Relapse is common in the course of recovery and doesn't mean treatment has failed — it's information we use to adjust your plan and provide the right level of support going forward.
Is fentanyl treated differently than other opioids?
The underlying treatment approach is similar, but given the severity and unpredictability of fentanyl, we pay particularly close attention to overdose risk and safety during treatment.
Opioid addiction is a medical condition with real, effective treatment. You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to wait until things get worse to reach out.
Confidential · No Pressure · Coordinated Care
Start today. Walk-ins welcome.
Call us, send a message, or just come by the clinic. Same-day appointments are available, and our team will meet you without judgment.
1010 E McDowell Rd, Suite 410, Phoenix, AZ 85006 · Open until 7 PM Wednesdays