Oxycodone Addiction Treatment

Oxycodone is a powerful prescription opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain in adults. For instance, legitimate prescriptions for oxycodone use may be appropriate to provide chronic pain management, pain relief in patients who have recently undergone surgery, or much-needed relief for terminal cancer patients.

Like other drugs of the same opiate class, oxycodone may be produced from the poppy plant or manufactured synthetically. Many different pharmaceutical companies manufacture drugs that contain oxycodone, and brand names for oxycodone-containing products include OxyContin, Roxicodone, Roxybond, and Oxaydo. The generic form of the drug is simply called oxycodone.

And despite the drug’s noble medical uses, oxycodone is now perhaps most well known for driving the opiate addiction epidemic through the preceding epidemic of oxycodone abuse spurred on by rampant over-prescription of the drug. In particular, OxyContin abuse became so prevalent in some rural Western states that OxyContin gained the nickname “hillbilly heroin,” since oxycontin could provide a heroin-like high but was, for a time, a more affordable and accessible drug.

How Oxycodone Affects the Brain

Like other opioids, oxycodone binds to opioid receptors in the brain, triggering the release of dopamine and other endorphins. This helps oxycodone to produce the desired effect of pain relief, including in chronic pain patients who take the drug.

At least theoretically, oxycodone is considered safe when used as typically prescribed. But, when abused or used recreationally, the drug can be incredibly addictive. That’s because oxycodone can produce feelings of pleasure and even have euphoric effects that can compel users to engage in repeated oxycodone abuse.

However, repeatedly abusing oxycodone interferes with the brain’s ability to produce dopamine naturally. This leads to emotional lows, which compel a person to take even more of the drug just to feel ok, or to avoid oxycodone withdrawal. This can quickly lead to oxycodone addiction and physical dependency.

Opioid addiction has become an epidemic in the U.S. In 2018, there were more than 46,000 opioid-related overdose deaths, and opiate abuse has only continued to skyrocket since. In 2020, over 68,000 drug overdose deaths were reported to have involved opiate drugs. This figure includes oxycodone overdose deaths as well as deaths due to synthetic illicit opioids or abuse of similar prescription medication.

Taking OxyContin or another form of oxycodone with other medications that have depressant effects, like benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam, alprazolam) is especially dangerous, as it can lead to respiratory failure, coma, or death. Thus, if you or a loved one is suffering from addiction to OxyContin and benzodiazepines, it’s important to get professional help as soon as possible before oxycodone addiction claims another victim.

Since the federal government classifies oxycodone as a highly restricted Schedule Two drug, legal problems may also result from recurrent use of the drug, providing yet another reason why prompt treatment is imperative for anyone suffering from addiction to it.

Why Medical Detox May Be Necessary For Those With Oxycodone Addiction

It can be incredibly difficult to stop taking oxycodone, since doing so can produce uncomfortable oxycodone withdrawal symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, anxiety, muscle aches, restlessness, inability to sleep, and many others.

Though a lucky few may be able to overcome oxycodone abuse on their own, most people struggling with oxycodone addiction will need help to quit. Many people with oxycodone addiction will need medical detox since oxycodone addiction withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and even life-threatening. The experienced medical team at RECO Intensive can provide round-the-clock care to help you or a loved one struggling with oxycodone addiction to safely detox and manage their withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment for Oxycodone Addiction At Our Delray Beach Addiction Treatment Center

RECO Intensive provides a complete continuum of care for those suffering from addiction, from medical detox to partial hospitalization to residential treatment to sober living. Our interdisciplinary team includes doctors, nurse practitioners, board-certified psychiatrists, therapists, yoga instructors, equine specialists, and others who work together to create a personalized treatment plan for each client. We embrace your needs—body, mind, and spirit.

Our strong commitment to helping patients achieve oxycodone abuse recovery also inspires us to offer the sometimes controversial option of medication-assisted treatment. Supported by the most current substance abuse research, this form of addiction treatment helps to prevent relapse in patients seeking to overcome physical dependence on OxyContin by reducing cravings for the powerful drug. It does so by exerting a weaker version of the same effects on the brain or by blocking the effects of oxycodone use entirely.

Medication management may also be appropriate to treat the chemical aspects of any co-occurring disorders in a person addicted to oxycodone use, while individual therapy helps patients combat behavioral symptoms of such a mental illness. More generally, substance abuse treatment programs are focused on addressing these conditions as well as substance use disorder itself to facilitate a stable, long-term recovery from addiction.

In addition to meetings with a primary counselor, patients may also be expected to untangle the roots of their drug addiction in family therapy sessions, which allow family members a chance to participate in the drug abuse treatment process and to begin to heal the damage that drug abuse has caused to the entire family unit.

Group sessions are also a valuable part of drug rehab at most treatment centers, giving patients who are working to overcome drug addiction a safe, supervised forum in which they can process difficult emotions and discuss sensitive concerns with others who can empathize due to their own history of drug use.

In the case of outpatient services, group therapy may also be augmented by patients’ encouraged attendance at outside support groups, which will help patients to develop a strong support system outside their treatment center, further bolstering their prospects for long-term recovery from addiction.

Types of Addiction Treatment Offered At Our Oxycodone Addiction Treatment Center

• Our residential treatment program is best for people with serious or life-threatening addiction and those who have a high rate of relapse. Programs typically range from 30-90 days and provide structured, round-the-clock care in a safe, welcoming environment.
• Our partial hospitalization program is a good solution for people who are overcoming a chemical dependency but are unable to attend a full-time treatment program at our residential facility. Clients have the flexibility to continue working or going to school while in treatment.
• Our intensive outpatient program is ideal for people who do not require detox or inpatient treatment or who have already completed it. Outpatient treatment allows clients to continue to work and meet outside responsibilities while attending individual and group therapy sessions at our facility.

Most of our clients start with oxycodone detox and then move into a residential or outpatient program at our Delray Beach recovery center. And all of these treatment options can offer quality, comprehensive care to you or a family member who is currently struggling to control their substance use.

As mentioned above, our drug rehab also stands out among treatment centers due to the fact that our treatment programs are equipped to lead patients to holistic wellness as well as to provide the essentials needed for addiction treatment.

Though the prospect may seem daunting, oxycodone recovery is always possible with the right help. Contact us today to learn more about our oxycodone rehab programs and schedule a tour of our Delray Beach facility, or call us anytime at 844.955.3042.