1. Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
Addiction is the compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (such as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and a need to engage in use despite negative consequences

2. Treatment Options offered by DOC
Outpatient in the community
Intensive Outpatient in the community
Residential Treatment at Half Way Houses and Recovery Kentucky Centers
Substance Abuse Programs in prisons and jails for state and non state inmates
Outpatient Programs within the Prison for those with Medical issues
Medically Assisted Treatment (Vivitrol) for those who have completed or attending a SAP program while incarcerated
Social Services Clinicians who can assess and make treatment recommendations for Probationers and Parolees that are currently on community supervision

3. Relapse Rates after Treatment
A highly addictive opiate drug, heroin is recognized as having a relapse rate of 87 percent after drug treatment, cravings have been known to exist for years after treatment.
Alcohol recovery often incurs an extremely high relapse rate of 86 percent, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), with individuals returning to dependency within five years of alcohol recovery programs
Remember, addiction is driven by a compulsion to use

4. How are you navigating your Recovery?
Have you been down this road before?
What changes have you made?
Have you eliminated the triggers?
Are you attending aftercare appointments?
Are you attending support group meetings?
Not incorporating the above steps in recovery
is insane
Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting
a different outcome
. Have you heard of Vivitrol?

5. What is Vivitrol Injectable Naltraxone
The newest medically assisted treatment used to treat certain types of drug dependence such as Alcoholism and Opioid Dependence
It is an antagonist which means it is a blocking medication
Blocking medications blocks the euphoric effect of opioids and alcohol in the brain
Unlike other forms of MAT, Vivitrol is non-pleasure producing
There is no potential for abuse
Relieves physiological cravings
Normalizes body functions

6. Benefits of Vivitrol It has been approved by the FDA since 2010
90 days good time for 6 consecutive injections
It is an injectable medication which relieves the chances of forgetting your medication
Only has to be injected once every 28 days
Medication assisted treatment for opioid users is associated with:
Reductions in recidivism
Reductions in incarceration
Decreased crime
Decreased HIV
Decreased Hepatitis C infection

7. Things to know prior to Vivitrol Use
Vivitrol is covered by Kentucky Medicaid insurance
You must be opioid-free for a minimum of 7-10 days prior to initial Vivitrol injection.
Failure to do so will cause withdrawal symptoms that can be serious enough to require hospitalization and management in the ICU.
This medication is not used to help with opioid withdrawal symptoms
Pregnancy is a medical disqualifier
If you have liver damage please inform your health care provider
Injection site may be sore

8. Things to know continued…..
This medicine is a tool to be used in combination with counseling to treat addiction to opioids (heroin/morphine, codeine) as well as synthetic opioids (oxycodone, Oxycontin, hydrocodone).
Assists, doesn’t replace other treatment and recovery efforts
The Social Services Clinician covering your reporting office can assist you in the scheduling of your initial appointment.
The SSC is aware of the vivitrol providers in your community
An SSC will also provide you with a monthly courtesy call as a follow up as long as you are receiving injections!!