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OxyContin addiction is an epidemic that has spread rapidly across the United States over the past decade, affecting every population in every part of the country. Widely prescribed for moderate to severe pain in a number of situations, the time-released deliverance of pain-relieving medication means that patients can take one dose in the morning and enjoy its effects throughout the day. A boon for the medical community and the comfort level of patients, this new form of treatment took off and the number of OxyContin prescriptions written each year skyrocketed.

Crushing the pills before swallowing, snorting or injecting them has become a common method of abuse that has caused a number of health issues and problems among patients with legitimate prescriptions, including overdose and addiction. The rising rates of patient admissions to emergency rooms across the country for issues related to OxyContin abuse and addiction showed that it was not an issue that would go away on its own.

It is important to note that it is possible to safely take a legitimate prescription for OxyContin without developing an addiction. However, it is equally important to note that it is possible to develop an OxyContin addiction without a prescription for the drug. The methods of diversion are many and teenagers – who are rarely given such a strong medication – make up one of the largest groups at risk for the development of prescription painkiller addiction.

At Michael’s House, our counselors are standing by to assist you or your loved one in taking the first steps to break free from OxyContin addiction. We provide an all-inclusive residential opiate addiction treatment program that addresses the physical and psychological nature of prescription drug dependence.

If you would like more information about how we can help you, contact us at Michael’s House for more information today.

OxyContin Information

OxyContin is the brand name for oxycodone hydrochloride, an opioid-based medication available only through a prescription and produced by Purdue Pharma L.P. Because it is dispensed in an extended-release pill, one dose can provide pain relief for as long as 12 hours and due to the ease with which it can be abused, it has been classified as a Schedule II drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Other medications that are similar in chemical makeup and effect include Vicodin, Percocet, Lortab, codeine and morphine. It is important that patients remain vigilant when taking this and similar medications, and take immediate action when the signs of abuse or addiction begin to appear.

The Development of Addiction

There is a definite demarcation between OxyContin abuse and dependence and between physical dependence and a full-blown addiction. Abuse is defined by the non-medical use of OxyContin for any reason and in any amount, with or without a prescription. An abuse problem that requires treatment will be characterized by ongoing negative consequences in day-to-day life due to continued abuse of the painkiller, according to Medline Plus. OxyContin dependence, however, may affect daily life in a negative fashion but its primary characteristic is the patient’s need for a continual supply of the drug in order to function or avoid illness. When this physical dependence is matched with a psychological dependence, or a constant craving and preoccupation with the painkiller, then OxyContin addiction is an issue – and one that requires immediate treatment

Identifying a Problem

At-Risk Populations for Addiction

Who is most likely to develop an addiction to OxyContin? Though every population is subject to the development of an addiction to OxyContin because prescriptions are so readily available, some are more likely to go from use to abuse to addiction. These populations include those who have been addicted to any other substances including alcohol, patients with chronic pain related to medical issues or injury, and those who are diagnosed with a co-occurring mental health disorder.

Among opiate-addicted study participants, 35 percent used heroin first and then began abusing OxyContin among other prescription painkillers later while 24 percent first used prescription painkillers and then tried heroin and another 24 percent used prescription painkillers only and 17 percent used nothing but heroin. More and more, patients are abusing prescription painkillers due to ease of access (e.g., leftover prescriptions, over-prescribed pills, fraudulent prescriptions, etc.) and many are ultimately turning to heroin when OxyContin becomes too expensive or too difficult to get in regular and large enough amounts to maintain an active addiction.

Causes of Addiction

There is no one specific reason that OxyContin addiction develops in some patients and not in others. There are, however, a number of reasons that some patients are more susceptible to the development of painkiller dependence than their peers. According to Harvard Medical School, the following may be contributory causes of the development of OxyContin addiction in patients:

Effects of an Addiction to OxyContin

OxyContin works by binding to pain receptors in the brain and effectively blocking those receptors from communicating the experience of that pain to the patient. Additionally, the drug triggers a release of chemicals associated with happiness in the pleasure pathway – the process that creates the “high” that is so physically addictive for patients, according to the National Institutes of Health. Over time with continued use of OxyContin, the patient’s brain adjusts according to the expectation that there will be a constant influx of the medication. Chemical release and the ability to regulate pain adjust accordingly, creating a physical dependence upon the drug.

OxyContin also affects other parts of the patient’s life. When psychological dependence becomes an issue, all other areas of life suffer from lack of attention. Patients tend to stop focusing on their healthcare, nutrition, finances, relationships, progress at school or work – even mere attendance is a struggle. The focus turns solely to obtaining more OxyContin and staying under its influence, to the detriment of all else.

Psychological and Physical Treatment for Prescription Painkiller Addiction

Most rehabs start with a medical detox to ensure that safety of the patient as his or her body readjusts to functioning without the painkiller. Immediately following the stabilization of the patient, he or she will enter into psychological addiction treatment characterized by an intense schedule of personal therapy sessions, group therapy, and a range of experiential therapies and holistic treatments. Followed by aftercare services, this process of treatment is the most effective way to combat addiction.

However, the road from active addiction to active recovery isn’t always short. There is often a process defined by a certain development of perspective and attitude. According to a paper published in the American Journal of Addiction, this progression of readiness or motivation can help patients move closer to a mental state that is open to the possibility that treatment holds.

Addiction Treatment at Michael’s House

OxyContin abuse is often a problem for patients whose primary drug of choice is another substance entirely, like alcohol or cocaine. In a study published by American Journal of Psychiatry, five percent of participating patients said that they had abused OxyContin and 4.5 percent of those said that they abused the painkiller regularly for at least a year prior to admission to treatment. Additionally, 78 percent of patients who reported OxyContin abuse said that the pills that they used were not prescribed to them and 86 percent said that they specifically abused the drug in order to get “high.”

Michael’s House provides residential rehab treatment for patients who are fighting OxyContin abuse or addiction. Our peaceful estate in Palm Springs, California provides an idyllic locale for recovery.

Contact us today to find out more about your options in prescription drug addiction treatment.