Withdrawal symptoms can be painful, uncomfortable, and may result in you relapsing. However, drug treatment for withdrawal can make you more relaxed and ease the discomfort of detox. Since intravenous therapy is being used, your doctor can easily adjust your medication safely and effectively, and with fast response. Any withdrawal symptoms which occur will be addressed, so that you will be kept comfortable and be able to complete your detox process.

It develops after an individual repeatedly abuses morphine, and the brain and body develop a dependency on the drug. Oxycodone and all opioids after consuming them for a period of time will start to become less effective and you will begin to feel you need to make more in order to feel the same effects as before. All individuals regardless of background will build up a physical dependence on opiates after a long period of time but many people don’t actually suffer from addiction.

Slow-release oxycodone can take 1 to 2 days to work fully, but the pain relief will last longer. Your treatment will arm you with the skills necessary to kick your OxyContin habit and fight off relapse triggers, but it will not immunise you against relapse. Staying off OxyContin requires a resolute commitment on your part and adequate help from friends and family, licensed psychologists, and support groups. Common psychological signs and symptoms include increased agitation and restlessness, severe depression, irritation, cravings, mood disorders, panic attacks, hallucinations, and delusions. Addiction to (and abuse of) OxyContin occursasa result of the habit-forming effects of the drug. OxyContin produces a powerful ‘high’ and pleasurable feeling when it fills opioid receptors in the brain.

She finished her prescription and continued to feel pain, so she went to her primary care physician, who felt uncomfortable writing her a prescription for additional opioids. She initially resorted to using leftover Percocet from her husband’s previous injury. Once these were gone, she started seeking pain medications from friends and family and eventually began to buy prescription opioids from a drug dealer in the town where she grew up. As the cost of her addiction rose and she was unable to support her habit with prescription opioids alone, she resorted to snorting heroin for the first time one week prior to presentation. “I never signed up for this” was the refrain she gave to the triage nurse as she told her story. She called her dealer to state she wanted to sever contact between the two of them, and the dealer agreed that her habit was escalating and that she was right to consider quitting.

If you’re a less frequent user, your symptoms may appear shorter and lighter, and similar to the usual flu-like symptoms. However, for heavy users, the symptoms are much more similar to those of heroin withdrawal. These intense physical and psychological symptoms can last anywhere from a week to months after you quit.

Myth #1: Oxycontin addiction only affects people who abuse the drug…

Opioids are a dangerous drug when misused and will lead to problems eventually down the line. Detoxification can present a whole host of negative side-effects for a person, so to do so without professional medical aid can result in very negative outcomes and even potentially lead to death. It should also be noted that most people who try to detox on their own end up relapsing due to the severity of the withdrawal side-effects. However, each time that you relapse, the withdrawal side-effects can be even worse the next time. Therefore, it is not only safer to experience withdrawal at our detox clinic, but it will also put you in better stead going forward.

Physical, Psychological, Emotional, Behavioural and Mental Effects of Oxycontin Abuse

We also have connections with many other dry house providers in the Weston-Super-Mare and Bristol areas. If you do choose to move on to a dry house, the team here will help you to arrange this prior to your leaving date in order to ensure a smooth transition. We offer treatment packages that either include or exclude a detox and vary in duration so that you can choose the right one to suit your life and circumstances. An addiction to drugs, whether that’s illicit or prescribed, can be very disruptive to not only those with the addiction but the friends and family of those around them.

If you can’t recognise yourself or your loved anymore due to changes in character as a result of OxyContin, please reach out for help immediately. Tolerance and dependence can also easily occur through following a genuine prescription. Drug abusers, however, will find that they quickly lose the sought after Oxy high and will need to take increasing amounts as a result. Help for Oxy addiction can also be sought through mutual aid support groups like Narcotics Anonymous and Smart Recovery. OxyContin tablets should be swallowed whole – crushing, chewing or dissolving.

Prescription drug addiction refers to taking prescription medication for reasons other than what the doctor initially prescribed them. Most people start off right, with a doctor-prescribed medication, but with time, the changes the drugs make to your brain make it hard to control your abilities and decision making. In most cases, the addiction begins when the drug is misused after being prescribed on a short term basis for pain relief. Sometimes a person may take heroin as a one-off for recreational use but will then soon find themselves hooked.

It also allows you to focus fully on your treatment without having to worry about work, family or other commitments. The main aims of OxyContin addiction treatment are to help people stop using OxyContin, get a better understanding of their underlying causes and develop the skills and knowledge necessary for a life in recovery. Each of these aims is incrementally achieved through the various stages of the rehab process with professional, qualified staff supporting you every step of the way. It only begins to be abused when people take more than the prescribed dose or don’t take it in the method intended.