There are many medications that people can take for pain. One of them is OxyContin. While it’s effective at treating pain, there’s a dark side to this drug. Abusing it quickly leads to dependency, which requires OxyContin substance abuse treatment. Is OxyContin addictive? It absolutely can be.
What Is OxyContin?
It’s important for people to have a firm understanding of what OxyContin is and how it works. This drug is a brand name for oxycodone hydrochloride. It relieves chronic pain for up to 12 hours on a single dose.
The active ingredient in OxyContin is oxycodone, which belongs to the group of medicines called opioids. This drug stimulates the opioid receptors in the brain and other areas of the central nervous system. It also binds to these receptors to block pain signals. However, its effects change the chemical balance in the brain, which can create a state of euphoria.
Since OxyContin is a controlled drug, people have to get prescriptions from their doctors to buy it. Even when doctors prescribe it, they typically don’t do so for long because of its addictive nature. Unfortunately, studies suggest that doctors overprescribe this drug. The end result is an increasing number of people who suffer from OxyContin addiction.
OxyContin Tolerance vs Addiction
Tolerance and addiction are two separate things that happen when people abuse opioids such as OxyContin. Many times, people who know little about drug abuse confuse tolerance with addiction. They sometimes needlessly suffer through pain because they stop taking their meds when their doctors increase the dose. The reason is that they worry about developing an addiction.
However, the American Cancer Society says that it’s normal for doctors to raise the dose from time to time. The body naturally builds a tolerance to OxyContin, which lowers its effectiveness.
The real problem is when people don’t take OxyContin how their doctors intended. Sometimes they increase the dose by taking more pills or take the pills for longer than their doctors instruct. When people abuse OxyContin, they train their brains and bodies to rely on large doses. Once this happens, it takes larger doses of OxyContin for people to overcome addiction and other opioid withdrawal symptoms such as aching muscles and splitting headaches. As a result, people who abuse OxyContin may not be able to reduce the dose without feeling sick from withdrawal symptoms.
OxyContin addiction often happens when someone compulsively uses medicine in higher doses for nonmedical reasons, despite negative consequences such as health problems, family troubles, or trouble at school or work. If you need more medication than your doctor prescribes in order to get comfortable, you may have developed an addiction that will require specialized treatment to overcome.
OxyContin Addiction Treatment in Oregon
Once people develop OxyContin addiction, they need to seek professional treatment. OxyContin addiction treatment involves many elements to deal with the various stages of addiction. Everyone deals with addiction in their own way, so rehab centers create custom treatment plans.
During OxyContin addiction treatment, the best rehab centers take time to inform people about addiction. Many people think that it’s a lifestyle choice. However, it’s a mental disorder that robs people of the ability to choose. During family counseling, therapists explain this to family members to help them see what their loved ones experience.
Most OxyContin rehab programs involve a lot of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of therapy that works on changing people’s negative thoughts and behaviors. The goal is to replace these negative behaviors with positive ones to spur a healthy lifestyle. Rehab centers typically use CBT during addiction counseling such as group and individual therapy.
Signs of OxyContin Addiction
To get a loved one help, you first have to know the signs of OxyContin abuse. There are numerous signs that may indicate that a loved one abuses the drug. Some of the most common signs include:
- Confusion
- Changes in mood
- Vomiting and nausea
- Altered sleeping habits
- Chronic constipation
Crestview Recovery Can Help You With OxyContin Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one suffers from OxyContin addiction, we want to help. At Crestview Recovery, we take providing quality addiction treatment seriously. Our facility offers only 30 beds to ensure that we can provide every client with the help that they deserve.
Crestview Recovery provides several programs and amenities. Our friendly staff creates custom treatment plans using the lineup of programs, including:
- Individual and group therapy
- Oxycontin Withdrawal
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Intensive outpatient rehab
- CBT
- Family therapy
Don’t let OxyContin destroy your life any longer. Let Crestview Recovery help get your life back on the right track. Contact our helpful staff members at 866.262.0531 for more information about our programs.