Since its inception in 1995, the rate of individuals becoming addicted to OxyContin has grown tremendously, increasing the need for OxyContin treatment. OxyContin is an opioid analgesic, which was created to ease severe pain; it is extremely addictive. Being a member of the opiate family, OxyContin is structured similar to heroin, Percodan, and morphine. Of all the abused prescription drugs on the market, OxyContin is one of the most highly abused.
OxyContin contains the ingredient Oxycodone, a synthetic morphine. It is a physically addicting and emotionally hazardous drug that was created as a 12-hour time-release pill. Many OxyContin abusers crush the pill, ignoring the time-release factor of the medication, just so they can increase their “high”. This results in an even higher chance of becoming addicted to the drug, plus overdose. It is imperative that OxyContin treatment be sought once an addiction has been identified.
Like prescription medications such as Vicodin and Demerol, OxyContin, a licensed physician must prescribe OxyContin. However, because it is a prescription drug, many abusers deny being addicted to the drug. They will often justify their situation, comparing it to other drug users who purchase illicit drugs on the street. They are clueless to their own reality–the fact that they are not taking the drug as prescribed, that they are taking more of it, more frequently, and they have developed a tolerance for it. Due to consuming more of the drug than they should, the prescription runs out quickly; many individuals suffering from OxyContin addiction resort to forging prescriptions, and “doctor shopping”–visiting different physicians. They believe they cannot live without OxyContin.
It is not difficult to become addicted to OxyContin; however, withdrawal is extremely painful. Symptoms include insomnia, nausea, vomiting, muscle and bone aches, restlessness and shaking/tremors. It is not wise to abruptly stop using the drug, as this can result in seizures and convulsions, which can result in death. It is recommended that you visit a treatment facility where you can be under the guidance of a physician who can gradually taper off your dosage.
Along with the physical problems that addiction to OxyContin brings, OxyContin abuse can destroy personal relationships, and result in loss of employment, legal issues, financial difficulties and failing health. The first step to overcoming OxyContin addiction is to undergo a medically supervised program that includes drug detox followed up by residential treatment programs. During detox, the physician will develop a medical system, designed to reduce the emotional and physical pain associated with OxyContin withdrawal. These symptoms are hardly ever completely eliminated, but with medical assistance, they can be tolerable. OxyContin detox generally takes 5-7 days.
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Once drug detox has been completed, depending on the nature of the drug abuse and the amount of damage it has caused, residential treatment may be required. Even if the individual is medically stable, she may still have cravings for OxyContin; residential treatment can help her to effectively handle these cravings. There are also group, individual and family therapy available; these sessions help recovering addicts deal with past pain and help them to mend the damage done in the present as well. Generally, residential treatment lasts for 3 weeks; however, depending on the severity of the sickness, this can vary.