“We have a family friend who was prescribed OxyContin for her lower back pain, but she has for months now, been taking double her dosage and seemingly forgotten her normal responsibilities. She floats through life oblivious to everything around her and is definitely addicted. Could you please provide us with a little insight into Oxycontin addiction treatment?”
This is a perfect example of the type of concerns people regularly voice in their initial meetings with counselors, or drug clinic staff. It is common that a friend or group of friends approach us to discuss the patients’ addiction. Concerned and usually slightly confused as to their role and what they can do to help, they often oscillate between wanting to help their friend and not being sure of their place in the matter.
The withdrawal symptoms themselves range from unpleasant to extremely painful.
Oxycontin addiction treatment should be designed to provide the patient with mental and emotional support whilst he/she is weaned slowly off the drug, as the patient has become physically addicted to the drug, and emotionally addicted to the sense of euphoria it induces. The withdrawal symptoms if the user were to try to stop cold turkey would be extremely intense and in the interest of safety the user must have their dose decreased regularly in a controlled environment.
The withdrawal symptoms with Oxycontin are similar to, but more intense than those of heroin withdrawal and last longer. Withdrawal symptoms usually start between 6 – 8 hours of the last dose, and can last up to, and sometimes exceed, a week. The symptoms themselves range from unpleasant to extremely painful and include extensive sleeping, muscle and joint aches, nausea and prolonged vomiting, hot and cold sweats, diarrhea, depression and possible suicidal tendencies as well as heart palpitations. The symptoms do not normally reach fatal proportions, but there have been cases where the patients’ body has been to weak to withstand the barrage of symptoms.
In synopsis, it is important to realize that a person who wants to beat Oxycontin addiction is in for an extremely tough time and needs support, both physically – with good food, lots of rest and an environment conducive to his/her immediate needs – as well as emotionally – with the presence and encouragement of friends and family and the guidance of people who have been down this particularly dark road before. It can be accepted that effective Oxycontin addiction treatment should include the patient being slowly weaned off the drug so as not to allow the more severe symptoms of withdrawal to set in.
To conclude, the best place and safest place for the treatment of an Oxycontin addict is without doubt a residential drug rehab.
