Oxycodone Addiction Treatment

Oxycodone abuse often begins with a legitimate prescription for moderate to severe pain management, but the risk of addiction is high. Oxycodone is one of the most misused prescription opioid pain relievers. It was originally intended to treat severe pain, but it’s become synonymous with the opioid crisis plaguing the United States right now.

Also known by the brand names Oxycontin and Percocet, oxycodone belongs to the opiate family of drugs. Prescription opioid misuse and addiction is a risk that comes with all drugs in this category. Rising prescription pain medication misuse has led to federal and state programs aimed at addressing opioid abuse as a deadly epidemic. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that opioids were involved in over 50,000 U.S. overdose deaths in 2019.

What Is Oxycodone?

Oxycodone comes from opium of the poppy plant and is partially human made. It’s a semi-synthetic opioid. Formulations of oxycodone containing acetaminophen, aspirin, or only oxycodone are all listed as Schedule II drugs by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). This means it has a high potential for abuse and physical and psychological dependence. Oxycodone abuse dates back to the 1960s, and it’s well-known for euphoria-producing effects. Even though the country was not in the grips of the current opioid epidemic, heroin was a major concern during the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, scores of injured and under-insured Vietnam veterans were returning home with heroin dealers waiting to distribute. It wouldn’t be until the mid-1990s with the release and marketing of an extended-release version of oxycodone (OxyContin®), that the greatest opioid epidemic of our time would begin. Despite claims by the manufacturer that it had a low potential for abuse, extended-release oxycodone could be easily crushed, releasing the full 12-hours’ worth of oxycodone at once. With prescribing practices by some doctors who believed the marketing claims that it was not abusable, oxycodone flooded the pharmacies. It played an integral role in kicking off the opioid epidemic we now face. Many heroin users today started with opioid medications like OxyContin. By seeking oxycodone addiction treatment early your risk of transitioning to drugs like heroin is reduced.

Effects of Oxycodone

Like most narcotic opioid pain relievers, oxycodone directly targets and binds to the μ opioid receptor in the brain. This stimulates your reward system as it provides a rush of euphoria. Although oxycodone is a painkiller, it doesn’t address the cause of pain; it just dulls the signals in the brain that send messages that you feel pain.

Oxycodone Side Effects

Oxycodone may cause similar effects as other opioid painkillers. Those can range from mild to serious side effects, like:

Euphoria
Drowsiness
Confusion
Slowed breathing or trouble breathing
Flushing
Low blood pressure
Slurred speech
Dizziness
Nausea / vomiting
Constipation
Dry mouth
Seizures
Heavy limbs
Constricted pupils

Oxycodone Withdrawal Symptoms

Once you’re addicted to oxycodone, your body will experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms include several painful and uncomfortable symptoms that range from mild to severe. Your physical health and the severity of oxycodone abuse are strong factors in the length of time it takes to complete detox. Typically, a medically assisted detox from oxycodone can last between five and 14 days with symptoms significantly easing around the third or fourth day. Although oxycodone detox usually doesn’t come with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, it can feel excruciating if you have an opioid addiction. You can experience a combination of physical and psychological symptoms such as:

Runny nose
Increased anxiety
Watery eyes
High fever
Restlessness
Muscle aches and spasms
High blood pressure
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Rapid heart rate
Intense cravings
Sweating
Chills
Clammy skin
Excessive yawning
Insomnia
Agitation
Joint pain
Depression

You should never attempt oxycodone detox on your own. Opioid withdrawal requires medical detox in a professional setting. Medical professionals will keep you safe and administer medications that ease uncomfortable or severe withdrawal symptoms. Although withdrawal symptoms cannot be eliminated. In medical opioid detox, they can be managed so that you’re comfortable enough to sleep and feel more relaxed during the process.

Oxycodone Overdose Symptoms

Excessive oxycodone abuse can cause an opioid overdose, which can be fatal. Naloxone is a safe medication that can be administered by emergency medical workers, trained professionals, and laypeople (in some states) to stop an overdose from becoming fatal. Early intervention is critical. Opioid overdose symptoms include:

Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
Slow breathing
Choking or gurgling sounds
Limp body
Pale, blue, or cold skin

If you suspect someone is overdosing on opioids, call 911 immediately.

Signs You’re Addicted to Oxycodone

Oxycodone addiction can develop faster than you think, especially when you’re taking the drug in dangerous ways, like snorting it or injecting it intravenously.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a primary, chronic disease of:

Brain reward
Motivation
Memory
Related circuitry

Addiction is uniquely characterized by the behaviors associated with it. These are destructive and include drug-seeking behaviors like:

Doctor shopping
Stealing money or oxycodone from loved ones
Ruminating about using oxycodone and other drugs
Continued use of oxycodone despite negative consequences
Taking risks like drinking alcohol or using other drugs with oxycodone to enhance your high

The consequences of oxycodone addiction rarely end until you seek help — and that does not necessarily need to be at rock bottom. Addiction can make life unmanageable for you and your loved ones. Difficulties resulting from substance abuse include:

Legal troubles from stealing or buying oxycodone illegally
Health complications
Financial problems
Strained relationships with loved ones
Loss or reduction in earning capability
Serious accidental injury to yourself or others while taking oxycodone

Over time, taking opioids can change your brain’s structure, removing special connections between neurons. This can force your brain to rely on opioid compounds for functions like thought, emotion, and critical thinking.

Opioid abuse and addiction revise your brain’s reward system, fueling irresistible cravings for oxycodone. The smallest triggers can jumpstart the need for more oxycodone. The biggest triggers make the desire for opioids unbearable.

The final piece of the puzzle that makes oxycodone so addictive is that after long-term exposure, your brain cannot function without it. When you stop taking oxycodone, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that make you even more dependent on the medication just to feel normal.

Some common signs and symptoms of an opioid addiction include:

The inability to control use
Uncontrollable cravings
Drowsiness
Changes in sleep habits
Weight loss
Frequent flu-like symptoms
Decreased sex drive
Lack of hygiene
Changes in exercise habits
Isolation from family or friends
Stealing from family, friends, or businesses
New financial difficulties
Inability to abstain from oxycodone abuse
Behavioral control issues
Intense cravings to use oxycodone
Inability to recognize problems and dangers associated with addictive behaviors
Impaired and dysfunctional emotional responses
Chronic withdrawal
Mental health symptoms like depression or anxiety

How Do You Treat Opioid Addiction?

Addiction is a disease. That means it’s not a matter of choice or willpower. It can fundamentally change your brain chemistry, which is why quitting can feel so challenging.

Early recovery often involves five steps:

Intervention
Medical detox
Opioid withdrawal management
Long-term treatment and therapies
Aftercare

Intervention

If your loved one is addicted to opioids and refuses to get help, it may be necessary to stage an intervention. This is a properly planned and carried out group meeting between your loved one, their close friends and family, and a trained moderator or professional interventionist. The goal is to convince your loved one that they have a problem with substance abuse and need to enroll in a treatment program immediately.

When successful, the individual accepts the need for help with their oxycodone problem. They then begin working with the interventionist and their friends and family on how to connect with a treatment center.

Interventions can be very emotional and contentious experiences. They are best held in the presence and supervision of a trained interventionist.

Medical Detox

The first step of oxycodone treatment at a facility is medically supervised detox. This is where you’ll go through a slow process of decreasing your physical need for opioids. When you stop taking oxycodone, your body will start to detox naturally, which will likely result in opioid withdrawal symptoms. These can be uncomfortable, even dangerous, and the risk of relapse is high. That’s why detoxing under medical supervision is crucial. You can be monitored and supported by medical professionals.

During detox from oxycodone, you may also require medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with medication for opioid abuse like buprenorphine. In a clinical setting, MAT will be administered by health care providers.

Treatment

Once detox is complete, the next step of recovery is a structured treatment program. There are several different levels of treatment which vary depending on the level of care you require. Levels of treatment include the following:

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient rehab is best if you suffer from a mild oxycodone addiction or you’ve already progressed through PHP or IOP. It also usually refers to long-term aftercare. Many clients remain in outpatient treatment for several weeks or months for ongoing support. All treatment options typically include a combination of group and individual therapies. These therapies support you, teaching you the skills you need to pursue a life without oxycodone and offering insight into these areas:

Trauma
Relapse prevention
Self-esteem and self-worth
Family dynamics
Life skills (employment, legal issues, housing, etc.)
Peer support
Creative expression (writing, music, art)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Aftercare

Recovery doesn’t end when treatment ends. Aftercare, like 12-step groups and alumni programs, are important in preventing opioid abuse relapse. You need to practice coping skills and engaging in a positive support system to ensure a drug-free life. Aftercare can be lifelong, always providing you with a core group of advocates and friends who will be there in times of struggle and loneliness. This offering of strength and solidarity can go a long way in helping you enjoy a full and rich life in recovery.

How Long Will I Be in Treatment for an Oxycodone Addiction?

Everyone is different, so their treatment timeline is different too. Things that impact treatment time include:

The length of time you used oxycodone.
The amount of oxycodone you took each time.
How frequently you used.
If you require medication treatment to detox.
The presence of underlying medical or mental illness issues.

Recovery itself is a lengthy process. In fact, it’s a lifelong endeavor. That’s why most treatment professionals recommend ongoing therapy, peer support, or groups after you leave drug rehab.

Oxycodone Treatment at Vogue Recovery Center

Whether you are seeking addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, it’s never too late for recovery. At Vogue Recovery Center, we offer customized treatment plans for opioid use disorders. You’ll begin your recovery in a comfortable, private setting with peers who share similar struggles. Your care plan will include evidence-based therapies that are specific to your needs, challenges, and personal lifestyle. Overcoming oxycodone addiction means acquiring the tools and skills necessary to keep yourself safe, healthy, and thriving in a life of recovery. In treatment at Vogue, you’ll address several areas that support long-term sobriety like:

Identifying the people, places, and things that are personal triggers for relapse.
Addressing underlying issues, traumas, and problems, which may have contributed to initial drug abuse.
Understanding abilities and limits in recovery to maintain abstinence from further drug abuse.
Customizing a detailed aftercare plan, including where to live and work, how to engage in sober activities, and connecting with individual and group support.

Does Insurance Cover Oxycodone Treatment?

Most insurance plans cover behavioral health treatment like they do other medical conditions. Specific benefits usually vary by level of care and length of treatment. Vogue accepts most health insurance plans. If you have insurance questions, call us. We will work with your insurance provider to determine your benefits.

Get Help

Recovery from oxycodone is possible. At Vogue Recovery Center, we’re ready to support you or your loved one. We’re passionate about recovery. We know addiction treatment saves lives. And we’re here for you from detox, throughout treatment, and after you leave us to support you in your recovery. Call us today to take the next step in building your new life.