OxyContin addiction is one of the fastest growing problems facing drug rehab centers around the country. The intense, addictive quality of the drug has caused many individuals to lose everything to the drug.
If you are addicted to OxyContin, rehab is as necessary as treatment for heroin addiction or other forms of addiction. Every day, over 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for misusing prescription opioids such as OxyContin.1 As a matter of fact, emergency room deaths by opiate overdose have now surpassed overdoses from cocaine or methamphetamines combined.2
What is OxyContin?
OxyContin is an opiate-based painkiller given to patients experiencing severe levels of pain. It contains between 10 and 80 milligrams of oxycodone in a timed-release formula that allows up to 12 hours of relief from chronic pain. Instead of having to take several pain pills, an individual needs only one dose to experience continuous pain relief.
Why is OxyContin so Dangerous?
OxyContin is addictive because of its opiate nature. When the drug is abused, either by crushing and snorting it, OxyContin becomes highly dangerous. Instead of entering the body over the course of twelve hours, individuals who abuse it are likely receiving the entire dosage at once. This is a powerful effect that can lead to overdose and even death.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of OxyContin Addiction?
There are a number of hallmark signs and symptoms of OxyContin addiction. If you notice any of the following symptoms, professional help is needed in the form of a drug rehab program. Common OxyContin symptoms include:
- Severe mood swings
- Withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings
- Criminal behavior such as stealing from friends and family
- Unethical behavior such as “doctor shopping”
Anyone who exhibits any of the symptoms or behaviors above should consider entering treatment at a professional drug treatment center. In addition, those who want to stop using OxyContin, but are unable to do so, are also prime candidates for treatment.
What Happens During Treatment?
There are three basic elements that are a part of almost every OxyContin rehab program: detox, counseling, and aftercare. OxyContin detox is the first step. Detox can be a difficult time, as the individual will experience withdrawal symptoms while the body adjusts to the change.
Once the drug detox process is complete, the individual will no longer be physically addicted to OxyContin, and can move forward into counseling as well as the rest of the drug rehab process.
How to get a Loved One into Treatment
Individuals who are addicted to OxyContin will rarely stop on their own. They are even less likely to contact an addiction treatment center before their lives have “bottomed out” and moved into very dangerous territory. Because of these facts, the responsibility falls on the loved ones of the addicted individual to step in and help before the drug problem leads to long-term consequences.
Many experts recommend holding a drug intervention for your loved one. An intervention is a meeting where loved ones gather together to show the addicted individual how their OxyContin use has impacted them. An intervention is a chance to show that individual how much they are loved and to get them to enter into an addiction treatmentfacility immediately.
What are the Different Types of Rehabilitation?
There are two primary types of OxyContin programs – residential and outpatient – each with their own unique advantage and disadvantages.
Advantages of Outpatient Rehab
- Good for those who need to stay in school or on the job during treatment
- A better choice for individuals with child-care duties
- Better suited for those with less serious OxyContin addiction issues.
Advantages of Residential Rehab
- Allows the individual to leave their harmful environment and come to a “safe place” where they only need to focus on their recovery
- Living side by side with other recovering addicts creates a support structure that aids the healing process.
Disadvantages of Outpatient Rehab
- Individuals may face distraction and temptation when he returns home each evening
- May not form as strong a bond with fellow addicts as those ina residential program.
Disadvantages of Residential Rehab
- Higher cost than outpatient treatment
- Leaving family or responsibilities behind may weigh heavily on the patient’s mind
Michael’s House is a residential OxyContin rehab program located in Palm Springs, California. We pride ourselves in giving patients outstanding care that provides healing and support for the “whole person” in mind, body, and soul. Please contact Michael’s House today at 760-548-4032 for more information on OxyContin addiction treatment so you can move forward in your recovery.
Sources
1 “Prescription Opioid Overdose Data.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Dec. 2016. Web. 10 July 2017.
2 Albrecht, Steve. “The Opiate Addict in Your Office.” Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 17 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 July 2017.