After being treated in the emergency department for an opioid overdose two weeks ago, a client arrives to an outpatient treatment clinic. During the admission interview with the nurse, the client denies having a problem with opioid addiction, but admits to gradually increasing the dosage. Which approach is best for the nurse to make?

A. Recommend substituting opioids with other pain medication: Simply switching to another pain medication without addressing underlying misuse behaviors may reinforce dependency. This overlooks the denial and psychological aspects of addiction. B. Explore other coping strategies aside from using medications: This client-centered approach gently addresses the issue without direct confrontation. It encourages self-reflection, promotes healthy alternatives, and meets the client where they are in terms of readiness for change, which is essential in early recovery. C. Provide a list of local Narcotics Anonymous meetings: Although this is useful, offering it during the first interaction with a client in denial may lead to resistance. Engagement and trust-building through conversation about alternatives are more effective initially. D. Explain that opioid abuse poses a great risk to life: Providing factual information about risk can be helpful, but directly labeling it as abuse when the client is in denial may trigger defensiveness. It is more therapeutic to explore behaviors and build insight before confrontation.