Oxycodone Addiction Treatment
Oxycodone, as found in OxyContin or Percocet, is a powerful painkiller and one of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the country.
According to the United States Department of Justice, more than 13 million Americans abuse oxycodone, including children as young as 12 years old.
Like other narcotic medications, oxycodone can impair mental and physical abilities. Other side effects include breathing irregularity or respiratory depression, headaches, nausea, dizziness, seizures, low blood pressure, and heart failure. Overdose death is possible due to cardiac arrest or slowed breathing, especially when ingesting crushed OxyContin tablets.
As an opiate, oxycodone is similar to heroin. It elevates levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is linked with pleasurable experiences. Some illicit users abuse oxycodone to achieve a euphoric high. Opiate addicts use it to control withdrawal symptoms when heroin or morphine is unavailable.
Behavioral therapies for addiction to prescription opioids help people modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use, increase healthy life skills, and persist with other forms of treatment, such as medication. Some examples include, cognitive behavioral therapy which helps modify the patient's drug use expectations and behaviors, and also effectively manage triggers and stress. Multidimensional family therapy addresses a range of personal and family influences on one's drug use patterns and is designed to improve overall functioning.
Those who begin to abuse Oxycodone may not always be aware of the damage they are doing to their lives. Allowing a chemical dependency concern of this kind to remain present in a person’s life can have a significant impact on his or her mental and physical health, financial status, employment status, and quality of relationships with others. Mental health concerns can become more severe, irreversible organ damage can occur, money could dwindle, one’s job could be terminated, and a person can find him or herself alone without the support of loved ones. Additionally, an Oxycodone addiction increases a person’s chances for experiencing an overdose, which could be fatal if medical attention is not sought. Effective treatment can prevent the aforementioned effects, help a person realize why and how this type of concern has arisen in his or her life, and instill the skills and confidence needed to achieve and sustain lasting recovery.
