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According to the United States Department of Justice, more than 13 million Americans misuse oxycodone. The abuse of oxycodone can lead to serious health issues and can even lead to death, which is why it is so important to reach out for help. By turning to the right substance abuse treatment program, you can find your way back to sobriety.
Oxycodone is a Schedule II opioid analgesic that doctors prescribe to help with pain from an accident, surgery, or illness. Oxycodone is the primary ingredient in many medications, including OxyContin and Percocet. Some medications, like Percodan and Roxicet, can combine oxycodone with acetaminophen or aspirin.
Oxycodone is more similar to opiates like hydrocodone than codeine or heroin because they are both synthetic.
The most common street names for oxycodone are:
Oxycodone typically comes in pill or tablet form. People who use it as medically prescribed take the opioid as a whole tablet or pill, allowing for the slow release of the medication. When people abuse oxycodone, however, they may crush and snort the pills to receive quicker effects.
There are a number of behavioral signs that can indicate an oxycodone addiction. According to The National Institutes of Health, symptoms can include using oxycodone even when it is risky to do so, such as when driving a car. Other symptoms include:
There are also physical signs of oxycodone addiction, including:
Some common cognitive and psychosocial symptoms are:
Perhaps one of the most obvious signs of opioid addiction is a preoccupation with getting more oxycodone. The inability to stop using the drug despite all of the negative effects it brings on you and your loved ones can lead to troubling consequences.
Even using oxycodone for short lengths of time can cause negative effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, these effects can include:
With oxycodone, there is always the risk of overdosing. There is a misconception that the only people who can overdose are those who have been abusing oxycodone for a long time, but that is not the case. When oxycodone is not taken as prescribed, an overdose could occur at any time.
Using oxycodone for long periods of time can lead to serious effects. These can impact your daily life. Some of the most common effects are:
Aside from physical effects, there are also psychological effects, like risky behavior, impulsivity, poor judgment, and difficulty concentrating. You may also no longer feel interested in the things you once enjoyed doing.
Abusing oxycodone can also worsen mental health symptoms, especially depression. Opioids can cause changes to the brain’s pleasure and reward systems, and many times, people who already have depression need more of the drug to feel the desired effects. This puts the person at a higher risk of overdosing.
Long-term effects of oxycodone use can also cause relationship issues. Interpersonal problems with family members and other loved ones can make the urge to use the opioid worse, leading to a vicious cycle.
Because overdosing on oxycodone can happen at any time, it is important to know what to watch for. According to the National Library of Medicine, some of the signs of an overdose include:
It is crucial to call for help if you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms after taking oxycodone.
A person who struggles with an addiction to oxycodone can only start the process of healing by first removing all traces of the drug from their body. It is essential not to do this alone, however, because oxycodone withdrawal can be dangerous.
Withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop taking the drug. The use of oxycodone, even for a short time, can create changes in your body. When you stop using the drug, your body has to readjust to not having it.
In the first 24 hours after you stop taking oxycodone, you may experience:
After the first day, the symptoms can get worse. These include:
The severity of the symptoms can depend on how long you have been using oxycodone. Even people using the drug as their doctor prescribed can experience mild symptoms of withdrawal when they stop taking it.
To start your path toward recovery, the best step you can take is to turn to a treatment center that offers a safe detox process. Medical detox is the right choice for avoiding the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.
Medical detox is the process of removing a substance from your body under the supervision of medical professionals. It provides the stabilization you need to stay safe as your body eliminates the drug.
Medical professionals carefully tailor the medical detox process for each individual, taking into account illnesses and other health issues, how long the substance abuse took place, and co-occurring disorders.
How long the detox process lasts will depend on many factors, including duration and frequency of oxycodone use, quantity of the drug used, and individual factors like weight, age, health conditions, metabolic rate, and genetic makeup.
After medically-assisted detoxification, there are many types of treatment options you may turn to. You and your medical team can decide what will work best for your needs and circumstances.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT uses medications to prevent cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms, allowing you to start therapy sessions and focus on healing.
The use of medications paired with behavioral therapy options is one of the most effective ways of preventing relapses and lowering the risk of relapse-related overdosing.
Behavioral Therapies
Behavioral therapy is vital for people dealing with a substance use disorder. These therapies can help you identify and change the negative thoughts that impact your behavior.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
This type of behavioral therapy focuses on understanding that unhelpful or harmful ways of thinking can become patterns that affect your entire life.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy offers ways of changing the way you think. It can help you recognize the negative thoughts and show you how to reevaluate them. It can also help you understand the motivations of other people and learn how to use problem-solving skills to deal with challenging situations.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy focuses on the regulation of emotions. It combines strategies like learning distress tolerance and using self-soothing to deal with difficult situations. This therapy option also shows you how to be more assertive in relationships while also encouraging you to learn to listen more effectively.
Dialectical behavior therapy also focuses on core mindfulness. It helps you learn how to focus on the present and not live in past experiences. You can also learn how to tune into your surroundings.
Experiential Therapy
This type of therapy focuses on treating the whole person and not just dealing with the addiction. By using role-playing, props, music, or art, you can recreate situations and identify specific emotions or thoughts that may have affected you or are still affecting you. It can help you release negative emotions.
Trauma-Informed Practices
Trauma-informed practices take into account a person’s individual experiences, triggers, and memories they may battle with. By considering the effects that trauma can have on emotion regulation and behavior, the patient can be given a treatment plan that addresses the person’s exact psychological needs.
Group and Family Therapy
Group therapy lets you understand that you are not alone with your addiction. Isolation can make recovery very difficult, so being able to meet with others in similar situations can let you feel more connected.
Addiction affects more than the person with a substance use disorder. It can affect family members and other loved ones, too. By engaging in family therapy sessions, you can allow your loved ones to express themselves and share what their experiences have been like.
Recreational Therapy
Recreational therapy uses recreation and other activities to address the needs of an individual. It can involve the use of arts and crafts, sports, games, animals, drama, music, dance, and outings.
Recreational therapy can help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety while also improving social skills.
If you have a morphine addiction or any type of opioid, getting help is essential. Lakeview Health offers individualized programs to tackle your unique challenges and circumstances. With state-of-the-art facilities and the latest techniques for helping people with substance use disorders, Lakeview Health can help you get back on the right path. Contact Lakeview Health today at 866 704 7692 .
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