Sadly due to significant funding cuts to drug and alcohol services in the UK, free drug rehab places are few and far between. As a Class C controlled drug,  prescribers should carefully assess each patient and only prescribe OxyContin where alternative medications are no longer sufficient or suitable. OxyContin’s desired outcomes can come at a high cost to an individual abusing the drug; OxyContin is one of the more Medication Assisted Treatment powerful opioid medications available on the market. If your loved one is resistant to getting help, you may need to be patient and wait for them to be ready. You cannot force somebody to get help, but you can continue to love them and provide support when they are ready.

On taking opioids, a chemical reaction occurs in the brain’s reward centre, a large amount of dopamine is released and feelings of pleasure are experienced. However, with long-term use of opioids, the brain changes it’s chemistry and becomes dependent on the drugs to function normally. The patient becomes dependent on drugs feel normal and withdrawal from these drugs causes severe side effects. Some drugs and prescription medication can result in physical dependency, whereby the body relies on regular, continued use of the substance. If the body doesn’t have more of the substance after a period of time, withdrawal symptoms will start to be experienced and these can be dangerous and even fatal. The safest way to allow the body to adjust back is to have an inpatient detox where you are looked after by professional clinicians.

 

Oxycodone withdrawal & timeline

 

All of these can further increase the mental health impact of oxycodone addiction, creating a downward spiral of negative consequences that can be incredibly hard to break away from without professional help. At UKAT, our clients are given comprehensive discharge planning before they leave so that they know exactly what to do if they feel like they are going to relapse. We also invite all our clients to join our Alumni Network where everyone can offer support and guidance to each other in addition to the continuing group therapy sessions we provide during aftercare. Although attending rehab and completing a treatment programme greatly increases your chances of recovery, it is important to be aware that there is always a risk of relapse. Opioids like oxycodone have among the highest relapse rates but it is important to remember that relapse is not a sign of failure.

 

Opiates and opioids (synthetic drugs that act like opiates – we will use the two terms interchangeably) are some of the most commonly abused drugs in the UK. We know that seeking help for opioid recovery treatment can be scary but we have helped many people break the cycle and start brand new lives. Unfortunately, only you can take the most important first step and reach out but once you do, we will be with you every step of the way. Getting back your life and regaining control over it is the biggest benefit you can get from undergoing detox and treatment for an oxycodone addiction.

 

Oxycontin Addiction and Abuse

 

It goes without saying that people who never use opioids will not become dependent on them. Medications such as methadone, extended-release naltrexone and buprenorphine are the most effective when they are administered alongside behavioural therapy. This is why it’s essential for each opioid user to find the right type of therapy for their individual situation, which often involves seeing a range of therapists. This means one patient may need to spend a great deal of time unpacking a damaging childhood, while another needs to look into the way they were exposed to opioids by their friendship group. As opioids are highly addictive, this problem can develop very quickly.

 

This means you have 24/hour access to care and support which can be vital in early recovery when cravings and temptations are at their strongest. It also allows you to focus solely on your recovery without any distractions from your everyday life. Although the withdrawal process seems daunting and unpleasant, in comparison to other common drug detoxifications, the withdrawal symptoms only occur for a relatively short period of time. The pain relief and side effects which you can get from oxycodone will be different for individual people. A doctor may prescribe oxycodone if you have had side effects from other opioids.

 

The effects of OxyContin (especially pain relief) will wear off after a few hours of your last dose, but extended use will lead to tolerance. As such, your body will require higher doses of the drug to recreate its original pain-relieving effects (and euphoric highs). Abuse of OxyContin occurs when you use the drug beyond your doctor’s prescription. This happens a lot given the nature of the drug and its effects on the brain.

 

Drug addiction occurs when the body and brain have become used to a certain dosage of an addictive substance and requires more to feel its full effects. Once an individual has become used to the drug, they will no longer feel the euphoric effects. The euphoria is also less pronounced in those taking the medication as prescribed, and this is because the medication works as it should and focuses on relieving pain. If you mix oxycodone with alcohol, another opiate or sedative, there is an increased risk of respiratory failure, coma and death. Overdose is also more likely if you abuse oxycodone by injecting it (unprescribed) or taking more than your body is used to.

 

Oxycodone dependence or abuse can be hard to recognize if you don’t know what to look out for. The use of painkillers has always been a legitimate solution to pain, previously heavily marketed, with no paraphernalia required for use. Purdue has long argued that holding up the settlement plan is depriving people and communities ravaged by opioid addiction of much-needed resources to help combat the crisis. For those individuals that do fall within one of the few contraindicated groups, they should always seek advice from their doctor before taking any live cultures supplements. A contraindication is a specific situation (or medical condition) in which a drug, natural remedy, medical procedure, or even surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the patient.

 

OxyContin is the branded formulation of the generic painkiller, Oxycodone. Addiction treatment has always involved seclusion from society in a dedicated treatment facility, but there has been a recent shift towards an integrated treatment approach that involves family members. Using OxyContin – as well as other opioids – could prove harmful to the growth and development of the foetus, particularly when taken within the first few months of pregnancy. This is because anything a woman consumes reaches the baby through the placenta.