Prescription Drug Treatment Considerations & Facts

Studies show more and more individuals seeking prescription drug treatment to address pain killer addiction. Some people are placed on these types of drugs following a painful injury, while others purchase through street dealers. If taken for long enough periods, these substances can become extremely addictive and harmful to both the individual and those around them. Below, we will outline a few key points to consider when considering recovery from a prescription medication addiction.

Step 1 – Pain killer addiction is extremely common in the U.S., posing a threat to people in all walks of life. Before an individual can receive help for their addiction, they must first admit that there is an issue that requires professional help. Someone who is not interested in receiving help will not respond to the treatment being provided.

Step 2 – If friends and family members are involved in the recovery, an intervention plan must be put in place. Once the addict feels ready to accept help for their dependency, a discussion with a professional drug counselor will better prepare them for the road ahead.

Step 3 – Most professionals agree that inpatient oxycontin rehab is the most effective means in achieving long-lasting sobriety. In this way, the individual is afforded the opportunity to detox and reassess life choices in an environment that is both controlled and positive without excessive exterior influence.

Step 4 – Once in treatment, addicts are introduced to facility philosophies and programs, including group and individual therapy. The addiction is analyzed, assessed and treated along with factors that may have negatively contributed to the individual’s abuse, such as a childhood trauma or recent death in the family.

Step 5 – Following treatment, addicts are encouraged to attend after-care groups, such as NA to help them keep on a sober track in the outside world. 

Prescription Drug Treatment Basics

The recent deaths of Hollywood celebrities, popular TV, and media coverage have placed prescription drug treatment in the limelight of American consciousness. Studies show prescription drug abuse to be growing rapidly, outshining even marijuana in recreational usage. Recovery from this type of addiction is never easy, in many cases requiring the aid and supervision of qualified addiction specialists.

Pain Relievers

Of all the prescription medications available today, pain relievers are abused most often. These medications are potent narcotics, and can be extremely addictive. Addiction to these substances is found more commonly among the elderly, with a recent study showing individuals 60 and over with a 17% addiction rate.

Treatment

Treatment is available to those seeking recovery from prescription drug addiction. Help may come in the form of long-term residential substance abuse rehabilitation or outpatient care, depending on what’s best for the patient.

The withdrawal process from these types of medications can often be hazardous to a patient’s health. As such, it is not uncommon for physicians to recommend patients enter a medically monitored detoxification program prior to rehab to ensure a safe and comfortable transition into recovery.

In addition to detox, individual counseling and psychotherapy is employed to help patients come to terms with emotions that come forth during withdrawal. Counseling serves the patient by providing them with a better understanding as to why they became dependent in the first place. Once inpatient treatment is complete, many patients use outpatient group therapy as a way to continue their recovery outside of the treatment facility, while easing their transition back to a sober and happy lifestyle. 

Oxycontin Addiction Treatment – Withdrawal Symptoms

Perhaps the most feared and misunderstood aspect of Oxycontin addiction treatment is the withdrawal symptoms. Oxycontin withdrawal involves a number of symptoms that take place once an addict reduces or quits taking the medication after prolonged or heavy abuse. The experience is quite similar to that experienced from other opiate-based drugs, including morphine, methadone, heroin and codeine.

What Is The Cause?

As with any opiate-based substance, Oxycontin use can result an addiction or physical dependency. In instances where the drug is used over a long period of time, a tolerance is built, requiring the user to ingest more of the drug in order to achieve the same high.

Individuals that have developed an addiction to Oxycontin who attempt to stop or reduce the intake amount will require a period of adjustment in order to recover from the addiction. As a result, the body begins to experience withdrawal symptoms.

Who Can Experience The Symptoms?

Anybody who has used Oxycontin for a prolonged period of time – generally 3 weeks or more – is likely to experience some level of withdrawal. The extent of withdrawal varies on a case-by-case basis, it will ultimately depend on the intake history and habits of the addict in question. Withdrawal symptoms are not limited to addicts, extending to patients who have be prescribed the drug to address pain resulting for a recent injury or surgical procedure.

What To Expect

Symptoms can range anywhere from severe to mild. Addicts who have chosen to enter an Oxycontin rehab center will be forced to enter a detoxification program prior to continuing their recovery. Here, the individual can receive medical monitoring and medication to help them come down from their addiction in a safe manner.

Getting The Help You Need

If you or someone you know are interested in seeking help for an addiction to Oxycontin, your best bet is to locate an Oxycontin treatment center to get the recovery process in motion. Look for facilities that specialize in Oxycontin and prescription drug rehabilitation and contact them to learn more about their philosophies to assess whether or not they are a good fit for your needs.

OxyContin Rehab – Symptoms & Withdrawal

If you believe a loved on is gripped by an addiction to OxyContin, Rehab may be an option worth pursuing. Once an individual has become addicted to a substance, they are likely to immerse themselves within a daily quest to achieve the high initially felt from the drug. When OxyContin is combined with other drugs, the risks associated with use become all the more extreme, leading to possible death via cardiac and respirator collapse. The hunt for the next high becomes priority in the addict’s life, resulting in strained relationships, lowered school and work productivity, and possible criminal behavior.

OxyContin addiction symptoms vary on a case-by-case basis but can commonly include:

Itching

Dry mouth

Slowed heart rate

Slowed breathing

Muscle tightness

Sleep disorders

Mood swings

Modding off

Failure to meet social, legal and financial obligations

Failure as a parent

Potential psychotic and mood disorders

Injection infections

High-risk sexual behaviors

Overdose

Withdrawal

Because the body takes only a matter of days to develop a tolerance, individuals who have taken OxyContin for even a small stretch of time are discouraged from discontinuing use cold turkey. Those choosing to discontinue use in an abrupt manner will likely begin to experience OxyContin withdrawal symptoms, typically lastings between three to seven days.

Addicts who choose to enroll in OxyContin drug rehab facilities will first be sent to a medically monitored detoxification program where medication can be administered to ease the withdrawal symptoms. Once detox is complete, the patient will be cleared to begin OxyContin rehabilitation.

OxyContin addiction treatment is vital for patients intent on breaking the cycle of adduction. Though progress can be made by patients choosing to tackle their substance abuse issues solo, studies show these attempts typically result in relapse. If you or someone you know are suffering from addiction, it’s important to know that help is available to those who seek it. Do your research, make some calls and get ready to fight; life is much to precious to waste on anything other than a happy and foreseeable future.