WHAT ARE PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS?
There is no doubt that the landscape of American drug addiction has been altered by the influx and subsequent abuse of prescription drugs.
In specific, those drugs are painkillers, which with nearly every legal case, requires a doctor’s prescription.
But legal or not, prescription painkiller addiction has been on a steep rise until its recent leveling off between 2015 and 2016.
Even so, as 2011 revealed that over 100 million Americans endured some type of dependence on prescription painkillers, the term “leveling off” brings small solace to a disease that has now reached every social facet of America.
The fact is from doctors who indiscriminately dole out prescriptions, to pill mills which arbitrarily sell any painkiller available as long as a prescription or even an x-ray is provided, the fallout from prescription pill addiction has caused death, broken up families, and awakened a nation to the largest epidemic in its history.
The statistics, however, mean little if you or a loved one has substance issues due to prescription painkillers – an addiction which can be very difficult to beat.
HOW CAN PAINKILLER REHAB HELP?
Opioids are hard to quit. However, with hard work, dedication, and a strong will to stop abusing opioids, you could enjoy a substance-free lifestyle.
As part of our recovery and support program, we’ll help you develop a network of supportive friends to keep you on the road to sobriety.
Along with helping you recover from opioid dependence, our qualified healthcare professionals will also help you identify your emotional triggers.
When taking the first crucial steps in recovery from opioid abuse, a full support staff can make a huge difference.
Most alcohol and drug treatment facilities fall under two categories: inpatient and outpatient.
PAINKILLER INPATIENT REHAB
If a substance use disorder is so severe the patient requires constant monitoring from qualified treatment professionals, then inpatient care is the perfect choice.
If a patient can’t cope with the withdrawal symptoms on his or her own, they will need inpatient care.
INPATIENT VISITATIONS
If you plan to visit someone during his or her inpatient recovery, be sure to clear it with patient’s counselor first, as it can affect the patient in different ways depending on how they are handling the recovery process.
If you decide to visit a patient during rehabilitation, be sure to do so when the patient if feeling positive and upbeat. If a patient is struggling through his or her rehab, you might want to postpone the visit until things turn around for the patient.
Each rehabilitation center will have its own rules on when visitations are allowed. Most do not allow visits when the patient is in the detox process or during the vital first stages of the rehabilitation process.
A visit from a person who cares about a patient can help in the recovery process when it comes at the right time. A well-timed visit lets the person in recovery know that people still care and he or she is not struggling alone.
PAINKILLER OUTPATIENT REHAB
Patients who require less intense observation during the detox and recovery process may find outpatient care a better option.
Some in the rehabilitation industry don’t look highly on outpatient care, but it can be a good option for patients who don’t need constant observation. Part of what makes outpatient care a good option is that it’s often more affordable.
THE PROCESS FOR PAINKILLER REHAB
Because opioid addiction is becoming more common in our society, having an opioid-based addiction program custom made for you is a fairly straightforward process.
We look deep into the history of your opioid use to find the root cause, then, through group and individual counseling, we help you learn how to confront that root cause.
We’ll also help you identify which aspects of your life could trigger a relapse.
We even help you figure out the common circumstances that cause people to run back to opioid. Those circumstances are often events that involve people gathering together like birthdays and holidays. We help you find ways to navigate these situations without letting your sobriety slip.
In addition to counseling, our rehabilitation process also focuses on your physical wellbeing. We offer exercise programs, which in most cases involves stretching, yoga, and other low impact activities. Getting into better physical shape will help you resist using opioid when the inevitable cravings strike.
Addiction can also physically damage you through weight gain (or loss) as well as a host of other ailments and in some cases, injuries.
Addiction attacks you mentally, emotionally, and physically, so your treatment must also address all three areas.
THE LENGTH OF PAINKILLER TREATMENT
Treatment for opioid is more than just detox. Along with getting clean, you still need to address your emotional, mental, and physical health, so you can stay sober.
Improving your overall health can sometimes require extended counseling sessions.
Because every situation is different, the treatment will vary in length from person to person.
One person may require treatment for a month or more, but the next person may only require a few days. It all depends on the severity of each case.
WHY ARE PAINKILLERS SO ADDICTING?
Prescription painkillers get their addictive power from their chemical makeup which is based on opiates derived from poppies, an opiate-producing plant.
Euphoria is what many addicts first feel after taking a prescription painkiller. Yet, that sensation lasts only so long before the addict feels they need another pill or a larger dosage.
Before long, a person becomes dependent on the medication, and with that, can resort to any measure necessary to ensure their habit is satisfied.
Unrelated to the drug itself, another reason people become dependent on prescription drugs is due to how freely the drug is prescribed.
And even as government officials have tried to limit the amount of prescription pills doctors prescribe, that can’t make up for the hundreds of thousands of patients who, at times, unsuspectingly abuse this medication.
OTHER THAN PAINKILLERS, DO OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS LEAD TO ADDICTION?
We already know the dangers of pain-related opioids such as Codeine, Oxycodone, and Morphine.
But there are other prescription drugs with as much addictive power as the ones above. They are:
Opioid-based prescription painkillers, Hypnotics and Barbiturates which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, and opioid stimulants, such as Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) and Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta), which are used to treat narcolepsy, ADHD and obesity.
Because these two drugs contain opiates, they are equally addictive and potentially dangerous as prescription painkillers.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SOMEONE COMING DOWN FROM PAINKILLERS?
Like any addiction, the come down from the high can be ugly. That crash can also confirm a person’s addiction.
Symptoms that confirm a person’s addiction to prescription drugs include:
- Restlessness
- Muscle and bone pain
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Cold flashes with goose bumps (known as “cold turkey”)
- Involuntary muscle spasms, particularly in the legs
- Respiratory depression, such as when one’s breathing slows.
THE GOOD WITHIN THE BAD AND UGLY OF PAINKILLERS
It’s easy to think those who produce prescription painkillers, as well as doctors who prescribe the pills, aren’t in the least bit concerned with a patient’s well-being.
Nothing is farther from the truth.
In fact, if painkillers and other prescription pills are used properly, they can be extremely beneficial to someone who suffers from chronic ailments. It’s the “good” of what many affected by prescription pill abuse feel is the “bad and ugly” of pharmaceuticals.
The bad and ugly, of course, is addiction. And the sooner that ailment is addressed, the better.
PATIENT PRIVACY
We take pride in keeping your Patient Health Information (PHI) safe and secure.
Between the stress of withdrawal symptoms and confronting deep seeded issues in counseling, you don’t need the added anxiety of worrying about the security of your confidential information.
We understand the need for that peace of mind.
HOW ARE PAYMENTS HANDLED
If you stay with us for a long period of time, we will bill on a bi-weekly basis, otherwise it will be on a monthly basis.
Just like keep your Patient Health Information safe and secure, we do the same for your payment information. We don’t save your credit card information or any other financial records.
GOING AWAY FOR TREATMENT
In some cases, it can benefit a person to leave their immediate surroundings to seek rehab.
Getting away from the environment that led you to use opioid in first place can pay big dividends. Sometimes being around what’s familiar will also leave you susceptible to relapse.
Going away for opioid treatment rids you of distractions, and allows you to fully focus on your rehab. The change of scenery can also help you gain new perspectives on life that may also aid in your recovery.
We have recovery experts at rehab facilities across that country, so you’re sure to find a place to suit your recovery needs.
POST-REHABILITATION SUPPORT
Without a group of people to function as a support structure, the opioid rehabilitation process will be much more difficult.
Fortunately, out rehab programs help you create this support network. Patients are encouraged to maintain these relationships after leaving the recovery center. This support group can also come in handy when staying sober becomes difficult.
In short, as sobriety from opioid remains a state of living for which many of us strive, it is reassuring despite the ups and down, that we are not alone in our efforts.
If you or a loved one have an addiction to alcohol, contact BLVD Treatment Centers. At BLVD Treatment Centers we custom tailor our recovery programs within the safe and nurturing confines of our rehab treatment centers. Located throughout California, in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and in Portland, OR, our mission is to assess the severity of your addiction to help you achieve true recovery within 30 days. Call us now at 1-888-537-6671.