Why is Oxycontin Drug Rehab Important?

OxyContin is a pain reliever so strong that doctors usually only prescribe the narcotic to terminal patients and people in severe pain. Due to its addictive nature, OxyContin is being abused at a great rate, necessitating the need for OxyContin drug rehab treatment.

Approximately one million people over the age of 11 have taken OxyContin recreationally at least one time, according to studies from the National Drug Intelligence Center. OxyContin addiction became well known when radio commentator Rush Limbaugh publicly admitted to a OxyContin addiction in 2003. Despite the attention this event brought to the problem, OxyContin addiction has only gotten worse in the years since. Consequently, OxyContin drug rehab treatment is needed more than ever.

Why is OxyContin Addiction Dangerous?

The active ingredients in OxyContin are opiates. In fact, OxyContin is similar in composition to heroin and addictive prescription painkillers like Vicodin. Unlike some other opioids, OxyContin works as a time-release narcotic that is effective over a period of 24 hours. The time-release formula was designed as a convenient way of taking the drug once rather than taking multiple doses over the same time period. When people want to abuse the drug, the time-release formula gets in the way of a high. As a result, some people will crush the drug and snort it in order to get all of the opiate at one time, a practice that substantially increases the possibility of overdose. To prevent the possibility of overdose and tragic consequences, it’s best to seek OxyContin drug rehab as soon as possible.

Once people become trapped by OxyContin addiction, they will find the high they are looking for becoming more and more elusive. Consequently, they start taking higher doses to reach the desired euphoric effect. At that point, things start becoming dangerous. An OxyContin overdose is a common event and, for approximately 1,000 Americans each year, it means death. Long-term abuse or addiction to OxyContin is best handled by a professional OxyContin drug rehab center.

OxyContin Addiction: It Happens More Easily Than You Think

OxyContin may be a legal substance but its addictive effects are as dangerous as its illegal opioid cousin, heroin. For this reason, doctors are supposed to closely monitor their patients when OxyContin has been prescribed. Usually that happens… but not always. In some states, doctor shopping is still possible when doctors aren’t closely monitoring their patients. OxyContin drug rehab centers encounter the end result of doctor shopping every day: shattered lives and devastated bodies.

Anyone taking OxyContin for longer than two or three weeks at a time or taking more than prescribed is in imminent danger of becoming addicted. The social stigma of addiction is so strong that many people can’t admit to themselves or others that they are hooked. These people will often try to quit on their own only to discover that the withdrawal symptoms are more than they can handle. That’s why professional OxyContin drug rehab treatment is vital to a successful recovery.

What are the Symptoms of OxyContin Addiction?

OxyContin addiction symptoms aren’t easy to handle. Many attempting self-detox give up when the symptoms kick in. OxyContin addiction symptoms include the following:

  • Intense cravings
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Heart palpitations
  • Change in sleep habits
  • Muscle & bone pain

  • Secretive behavior
  • Poor performance at work or school
  • Loss of interest in friends, hobbies
  • Weight loss
  • Irritability

How To Choose an OxyContin Drug Rehab Center

What’s the first step in recovering from an OxyContin addiction? That’s simple: simply admitting you need help. It’s a difficult first step but it helps to set the whole process in motion. Finding the OxyContin drug rehab facility that best suits your unique needs isn’t necessarily an easy task, however. Centers can vary in the type of treatments they offer and the quality of the care they provide. This is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make in your life so it makes sense to carefully consider all of your options:

Should the treatment center be nearby or far away?

There is no right answer here. However, it’s often a good idea to put at least some distance between you and the environment that spawned your addiction. Recovery is a new beginning and sometimes being in a new environment helps to reinforce this idea.

Is the OxyContin drug rehab center strict?

Some facilities stress the importance of total separation from your old environment so that you can focus completely on recovery. Many centers restrict laptops and some even ban or limit use of smartphones. It’s best that you understand this before accepting treatment.

Will the OxyContin drug rehab center take my insurance?

This is a question on most people’s minds. Bigger accredited facilities are likely to accept a wide range of health insurance policies from national and regional companies.

What about aftercare?

Does the OxyContin drug rehab center offer it? Familiar temptations are easier to deal with when there’s continuing support from the center. It’s important to reinforce coping strategies so that you can avoid relapse.

Is the OxyContin drug rehab center accredited?

Accreditation from an independent organization such as the Joint Commission insures that a facility provides high quality treatment.

Are staff members trained or certified in the area of treatment they provide?

Some centers, particularly accredited ones, are likely to employ better trained staff members. You depend on these people. Make sure they measure up.

Does the OxyContin drug rehab center offer the type of treatment I’m looking for?

For example, you may be interested in holistic therapy as part of your treatment. Not all centers will provide this. If you’re interested in particular alternative therapies such as swim therapy, equine therapy or music therapy, it’s important to do your research.

What Does Oxycontin Treatment Involve?

Sobriety doesn’t come easily. Anyone who has tried and failed to achieve knows that only too well. Even after treatment, sobriety involves a lifetime of vigilance and commitment. You’ve actually already taken the first step by reading this. The next step is beginning the treatment process, and that begins with detox.

Detox

Before rehab treatment can begin, your body must be cleansed of all traces of OxyContin. This isn’t an easy process. The withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable enough to make some people consider going back to using just to avoid feeling sick. In a professional detox facility, medications can be used to easy symptoms like anxiety, depression or increased blood pressure. All of this is done to ease the transition into a OxyContin drug rehab center later on. OxyContin drug rehab will be compromised if detox isn’t completely successful.

Withdrawal symptoms and their severity will depend on the following:

  • Metabolism
  • The dosage of OxyContin being taken
  • How long you’ve been taking OxyContin
  • Other substances involved

When detox takes place in a professional detox facility, the process is monitored 24/7 by trained medical professionals. Consequently, patients can be kept safe and comfortable during what may be a trying period. Detoxing on your own removes the safety factor and makes it far easier to relapse. Remember that successful OxyContin drug rehab treatment begins with a successful detox.

Withdrawal

Taking OxyContin on a regular basis means that the body becomes accustomed to its presence and makes adjustments. When the substance suddenly disappears from the body, the brain is confused and thrown into disarray. That is how withdrawal symptoms are generated. Your body is in a state of flux, unsure of what to do without the OxyContin in your system. No two people experience withdrawal in exactly the same way, although symptoms usually appear within the first 24 hours after the user has stopped taking OxyContin.

Typically, withdrawal symptoms will include some or all of the following:

  • Rapid heart rate
  • Strong depression
  • Decreased appetite
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Agitation
  • Trembling/shaking
  • Runny nose
  • Sweating
  • Inability to sleep
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Muscle tension & pain
  • Seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

Medications and Detox

To ensure a safe transition into OxyContin drug rehab, the detox phase may have to rely on medications to keep withdrawal symptoms manageable and under control. Doctors and staff will carefully monitor your medication use during this period. Although not everyone will require medication assistance during detox, withdrawal from an opioid addiction can be easier and more comfortable when it’s used. Effective OxyContin drug rehab depends on a successful detox phase. Sometimes, medications will help this process.

Medications used during detox depend on the type of drug addiction as well as a patient’s medical history. Typical medications used include:

Methadone

Methadone has often been used for dealing with various opioid addictions. It enables patients to better handle symptoms by tricking the body into thinking you’re still on opioids. Methadone also has addictive qualities so it is carefully reduced over time to keep a secondary addiction from occurring that would threaten OxyContin drug rehab treatment later on.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are most commonly associated with alcohol detox but may be used with other types of addiction as well. They are sometimes dispensed to reduce:

The possibility of seizures during detox

Overall intensity associated with withdrawal symptoms

Anxiety and symptoms of depression

Buprenorphine

This medication is often used during heroin or OxyContin drug rehab detox treatment. Buprenorphine has been increasing in popular as an alternative to methadone. Unlike with methadone, there is no “high” associated with Buprenorphine. That fact makes it far less likely that a patient will be addicted to it. Like methadone, however, the goal is to gradually wean the patient off of it over time.

Barbiturates

These are mild sedatives that help relieve withdrawal symptoms like irritability, discomfort and anxiety, which when left untreated can make the detox process very challenging. Similar to benzodiazepines, barbiturates can assist with lessening the patient’s risk of a seizure.

Types of OxyContin Drug Rehab Treatment

An OxyContin drug rehab center will likely offer the following types of treatment:

Inpatient treatment

Outpatient treatment

A combination of both (such as intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization)

Most people aren’t sure about their treatment options when they are considering different facilities. To determine which type of treatment is most appropriate for you, a reputable OxyContin drug rehab center will conduct a thorough personal interview with you.

Inpatient Treatment

An inpatient treatment program at an OxyContin drug rehab facility completely removes patients from their home environments where their addictions began. This makes it far easier for patients to concentrate completely on their recovery in a comfortable, campus-like setting without all of the familiar triggers and temptations present at home. Inpatient treatment also means 24/7 care by an experienced team of doctors and staff members to ensure your safe recovery.

Inpatient treatment at an OxyContin drug rehab center is often the optimal choice for those experiencing more advanced addictions and any patients who lack a stable and supportive family unit. Also, it’s the best option for patients with a co-occurring mental disorder such as depression. Any facility not offering the advantages listed above for inpatient treatment should probably be eliminated from your list of facilities for consideration.

In addition, some OxyContin drug rehab centers will offer high-end amenities and added privacy appropriate for business executives. Facilities offering treatment for executives typically provide workspaces and high-speed internet so that they can still conduct business while engaged in inpatient treatment.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment at an OxyContin drug rehab facility allows people to receive many of the same therapies as inpatient treatment with the added convenience of being able to return to work, school and family responsibilities. Patients with a strong and supportive family unit are usually ideal candidates for outpatient treatment.

OxyContin drug rehab as an outpatient works well for individuals with less severe and shorter-lived addictions. In addition, health insurance companies are more likely to cover a higher percentage of outpatient treatment due to its lower overall cost.

How Can I Get My Loved One Into OxyContin Drug Rehab?

If your loved one needs OxyContin drug rehab treatment, it’s likely that he or she won’t take the first step. Often, it’s the family that has to push. Sometimes, that involves a formal intervention, sometimes just a private talk. Do whatever it takes. A continued OxyContin addiction will only cause your loved one’s life to spiral out of control. Don’t let that happen. Drug rehab is the most effective way for a loved one to overcome OxyContin addiction.