Key Takeaways:
- Retired athletes are more likely to become addicted to opiates because of long-term injuries and the way they manage their pain.
- A full substance abuse evaluation in Las Vegas is an important first step on the road to recovery.
- Combining evidence-based therapies, such as Intensive Outpatient Programs, with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) makes outcomes much better.
- In a personalized treatment plan, programs like Opioid and Opiate Addiction, Relapse Prevention Therapy Program, Drug Detox, and Substance Abuse vs. Addiction Explained work together to help.
- For long-term recovery, you need ongoing support systems, plans to avoid relapses, and changes to your lifestyle.
Introduction
When retired athletes in Las Vegas deal with physical pain and the dark side of opioid addiction, it’s important to get professional help. In Las Vegas, a substance abuse evaluation is a personalized assessment that looks at the athlete’s past, including injuries, medication use, psychological stressors, and life after sports. This thorough evaluation lays the groundwork for a personalized treatment plan tailored to you.
Athletes often get hurt over and over again and have to take painkillers a lot, which can lead to misuse or addiction. Programs like Virtue Recovery in Las Vegas offer a structured way to figure out how bad someone’s drug use is and help retired athletes live a healthier, more sustainable life.
Why Are Retired Athletes More Likely To Become Addicted To Opioids?
Many retired athletes have long-term pain from injuries or surgeries they had in the past, which is why they get prescriptions for strong painkillers. But even though the doctor means well, this kind of prescribing can lead to addiction. Many athletes misuse opioids, according to research. For example, one study found that more than half of professional football players used painkillers, and a large number of them misused them. Also, using opioids for a long time can change the way brain receptors work, which can lead to addiction and cravings.
The culture of playing through pain, along with high expectations and early retirement (which can lead to identity loss), can make athletes turn to opioids to deal with their problems. Some people may turn to drugs or alcohol to feel better when the excitement of competition wears off, which makes the cycle of dependence worse.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, long-term opioid misuse impacts brain function and behavior and increases dependency risk significantly.
What Is The Format Of The Substance Abuse Evaluation In Las Vegas?
Psychiatric And Medical Evaluation
A thorough look at a person’s medical history, including surgeries and painkiller prescriptions, as well as a mental health screening to figure out if they have chronic pain, depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
Addiction Severity Index (ASI)
The ASI looks at how substance use affects a person’s medical, psychological, work, legal, and social functioning. This basic tool helps doctors determine the amount of care required. The CDC recognizes tools like the ASI for establishing addiction risk levels and care needs.
Planning For Drug Detox
If you need to detox, programs like drug detox offer medically supervised withdrawal. This includes drinking enough water, eating well, and taking medications like buprenorphine or methadone to help with symptoms.
Planning For Treatment
After detox, a personalized plan is created that combines various therapies tailored to the individual’s needs, including counseling and behavioral interventions. Schedules are established, and recovery goals are set.
Support For Family And Life Changes
When athletes retire, their family and partners often need help, information, and to be involved in the recovery process.
Why Is An Intensive Outpatient Program Part Of The Plan?
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) gives retired athletes the structure they need to get help with their addictions every day without having to live in a full-time care facility. IOPs let people live at home, keep up with their daily routines like part-time jobs, and slowly get used to living on their own.
Telescoped research indicates that combining MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder) with clinical therapy yields lower relapse rates and more favorable long-term outcomes. Drugs like buprenorphine and methadone, which are part of these programs, help people regain control of their brain chemistry after they become dependent.
How Do Programs Help People Get Better?
After detox, athletes go through certain therapeutic modules. For example, opioid and opiate addiction education helps them learn about the neurological and behavioral aspects of their condition.
The relapse prevention therapy program gives them tools to figure out what makes them want to use drugs again, make plans for how to deal with those urges, and create a healthy lifestyle after treatment.
Drug Detox programs help people start to get better by giving them medical care and easing their symptoms.
Substance Abuse vs. Addiction Explained workshops that explain the difference between early misuse and chronic addiction help people understand how important long-term support is.
Athletes who take part in these internal pathways learn a lot about addiction, become more resilient, and lower their chances of relapsing.
What Part Do Therapies Play In Getting Better?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NIDA both support using MOUD and counseling together. The FDA has approved methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone as drugs that reduce cravings and block the effects of opioids.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and group counseling are all types of behavioral therapy that help individuals improve their mental and physical well-being by reinforcing positive habits.
Alternative treatments for chronic pain, like physical therapy, acupuncture, or non-opioid medications, can take the place of opioids in pain management plans.
Structured Relapse Prevention Therapy helps retired athletes by focusing on routine, peer support, mental health, and stress management. To help former athletes establish a healthy identity after their sports careers, many programs offer support networks, exercise plans, and job training opportunities.
How Are Results Kept An Eye On Over Time?
Treatment is not the end of the recovery process. Urine screenings, MOUD management, mental health check-ins, and regular peer group sessions over time help people stay sober. It is common to have follow-ups every month or every three months.
Studies of outcomes show that people who are in MOUD with behavioral therapy are less likely to relapse. Athletes keep their coping skills for years by using relapse prevention tools like those in the Relapse prevention therapy program.
Final Thoughts
A substance abuse evaluation in Las Vegas is the first step for retired athletes who are addicted to opiates to get better. These evaluations make it possible to create personalized treatment plans that include detox, MOUD, trauma-focused therapy, and relapse prevention. These plans are all based on evidence and delivered through programs like Intensive Outpatient Programs.
Virtue Recovery Las Vegas assists former athletes in rebuilding their lives by providing them with comprehensive medical care and compassionate support. Call Virtue Recovery Las Vegas at Tel: 866.520.2861 now to begin your journey to health and strength.
FAQs:
What goes on during a substance abuse evaluation in Las Vegas?
It includes medical, psychological, and social evaluations to figure out what kind of care—outpatient, IOP, or inpatient—is needed for recovery.
Do doctors always give opioids after sports injuries?
No. Best practices say to try non-opioid alternatives first. Opioids should only be used when absolutely necessary and at the lowest effective dose.
What is the difference between an Intensive Outpatient Program and inpatient care?
IOP is great for people who have stable support systems because they can live at home and get therapy every day.
What is MOUD, or Medication for Opioid Use Disorder?
Methadone and buprenorphine are two FDA-approved drugs that are part of MOUD. They are used with counseling to help people deal with cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Can former athletes fully recover from an opioid addiction?
Yes. Athletes can get their health and happiness back with a structured plan that includes detox, IOP, MOUD, therapy, and preventing relapse.
Citations:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. 2025, https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/medications-opioid-use-disorder.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preventing Opioid Use Disorder. 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/prevention/preventing-opioid-use-disorder.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/treatment/opioid-use-disorder.html.
