Oxycodone Addiction

Individuals who experience opioid use disorders usually have an underlying mental health condition that requires professional intervention. To assess the level and severity of their addiction as well as screen them for any co-existing issues, it is imperative to get an in-depth evaluation before seeking any kind of treatment. Such evaluations typically occur in addiction treatment centers where addiction medical experts and clinicians perform a full psychological, physical, and emotional exam. Additionally, they may assess an individual’s living and social situation and go ahead with a cognitive evaluation to assess their ability to engage in different aspects of treatment. The purpose of these evaluations is to help treatment providers design a targeted plan that specifically addresses the weak areas of every individual while treating any co-occurring disorder simultaneously.

Addressing Physical Dependence with Detox

Enrolling in a detox program is usually the first step of oxycodone treatment in most treatment centers. The purpose of these programs is to help clients get rid of all drug residues from their bodies before entering behavioral treatment. As a part of detox, some individuals may develop unconformable signs of oxycodone withdrawal, such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Strong cravings for oxycodone
• Stomach cramps and/or diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Muscle aches
• Fast heartbeat
• Sleep disturbances
• High blood pressure

To make this withdrawal process easier, most medical detox programs include the use of a replacement medication, such as buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist which means that it binds with the same receptors in the brain as oxycodone but produces less significant results. With this medication, the individual is less likely to experience any significant withdrawal symptoms and safely detox in the due time.

Once a detox expert ascertains an initial dose of buprenorphine where recovering individuals do not experience any withdrawal symptoms, they will start tapering down the dose at period intervals until the patients completely wean off opiates. While this tapering process might seem lengthy, it provides a better experience to patients with a higher degree of safety and comfort. Apart from replacement drugs, a detox expert may prescribe other medications as needed to address additional symptoms.

Because the detox process requires constant supervision and 24/7 monitoring and support, most rehabs prefer that patients remain in an inpatient setting. However, a handful of them may seek it on an outpatient basis, especially if their addiction is mild.

Addiction Therapy

While medications can certainly support and speed up the process of recovery for an oxycontin addict, they cannot treat addiction. Hence, to reverse oxycodone addiction, most recovery programs include addiction therapy as a major component. Different types of therapies have been designed to address oxycodone addiction, one of which is cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. CBR allows clients and therapists to work together to identify the reasons behind oxycodone addiction and recognize how this addiction impacts the client’s behaviors and attitudes. Then, both develop a plan to help clients work on these issues and manage them in such a way that promotes positive recovery. In addition to this, CBT also helps individuals work on long-term relapse prevention strategies while managing other co-occurring disorders, like depression, anxiety, or personality issues.

Therapy for oxycodone addiction takes place in individual and group sessions. Sometimes, family members may attend these sessions alongside their recovering loved one to strengthen their bond and establish a stronger support system for the future.

Treatment for Co-occurring Conditions

A lot of people fighting oxycontin addiction usually have another underlying mental health disorder at the same time. Some examples of these co-occurring disorders include bipolar disorder, anxiety, and major depressive disorder. For all such people, it is imperative to treat the psychiatric issue along with the substance abuse issue. Treating any one of the conditions is usually counterproductive and is not likely to lead to significant recovery. Concurrent treatment, on the other hand, offers higher success rates.

Social Support

Another vital component of an Oxycodone addiction recovery program is support from friends, family, and others. One of the best ways for fostering this support is by inviting family members to participate in the individual’s recovery. Most rehabs also offer clients a chance to participate in various support groups, such as 12-step groups, Narcotics Anonymous, and more.

Attending support groups often provide recovering individuals to engage in ongoing recovery-focused activities, even after their formal treatment ends at a rehab. Keep in mind that these support groups are different from formal therapy groups as they do not involve any trained therapists. However, some of them, such as the SMART Recovery support group, may work on the principles of CBT.