Need for OxyContin Detox
When Legal Prescriptions Lead to Addiction or Dependence
Most people who consume opioid pain medications prescribed by a doctor do not become physically dependent or addicted. But a surprising percentage of people do fall victim to addictive medications even while following doctors’ orders.
Such narcotic painkillers as oxycodone, and its time-release formulation called OxyContin, are too often the cause of dependence and addiction. What’s even more surprising, most victims don’t know they are becoming dependent until it’s too late.
In Florida, OxyContin detox is a standard service offered at Novus Medical Detox® Center. People come from all over the state and beyond to receive medically-supervised detox from OxyContin, oxycodone or any of a dozen other opioid painkillers. And more often than not, these patients became hooked on the painkillers as a result of a doctor’s prescription.
OxyContin, or its active ingredient oxycodone, is a powerfully addictive narcotic, capable of inducing a physical dependence very quickly indeed, even in a matter of a few days for the most sensitive people. If not handled immediately, dependence — which means you suffer withdrawal symptoms if you don’t get another dose — almost always leads to addiction, with all the misery and loss you can possibly imagine as the end result.
OxyContin and the prescription painkiller epidemic of death
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), prescriptions for narcotic painkillers have risen 1,000 percent since 1990. The result has been absolutely horrendous — a 500 percent increase in prescription painkiller deaths, a national tragedy in which OxyContin has played a significant role.
Adding to the misery of families who have lost loved ones are thousands of non-fatal drug overdose injuries, and uncountable $billions in health care costs, lost wages and interrupted production. The cost of OxyContin addiction is colossal. The total cost of all narcotic painkillers is almost incalculable.
Emergency Room visits due to prescription narcotics have passed the 1 million mark and are rising at nearly 30 percent a year. More than a dozen states report that narcotic painkillers like OxyContin are now killing more people than car accidents.
Everyone in America, one way or another, is caught deeply in what government and state health officials are calling a prescription drug misuse, abuse, addiction and overdose epidemic. Only the drug companies are not suffering; sales are at all-time highs and profits are profits, no matter how they are made.
Some studies show that the narcotic epidemic seems to be hitting middle age and older people harder than the rest of the population. Narcotic overdoses peak in the 34 to 54 age range, while overdoses on drugs such as OxyContin and oxycodone among people in their 60s, 70s, and 80s have doubled in the past few years.
These statistics aren’t surprising since so much pain accompanies aging, and doctors are prescribing more opioid painkillers than ever.
Although we are often quick to point the finger at ‘Big Pharma’ for pushing narcotics into the medical marketplace, we need to refine our vision and look at the doctors who prescribe oxycodone, OxyContin, hydrocodone, Vicodin, Percocet, Lortab and any of a dozen other opioid narcotic painkillers by the truckload. It is doctors who put dangerous drugs into the hands of patients who have little or no idea how easily they might become dependent or addicted.
Assessing the risk of OxyContin Addiction
A large percentage of victims simply “liked the way it made them feel” and took a little more, and then a little more, than the doctor prescribed. Others thought that taking a little more to help the pain go away would be alright. In both cases, taking more than the prescription called for was asking for trouble.
But some people are particularly prone to physical dependence, and others even more sensitive to outright addiction. Earlier substance dependencies and addictions often add to the risk of developing addictions to painkillers. Also, people with a family history of addiction are considered a greater risk.
But drugs such as OxyContin are always a risk no matter what one’s background might be. For anyone caught in the trap of OxyContin addiction, the only answer is OxyContin detox. If you’re wondering whether you or someone you know is growing dependent or addicted to OxyContin or another opioid painkiller, consider this list of tell-tale signs:
- Is the opioid painkiller eliminating the pain and helping you to function better? If not, and you’re still taking it, see the doctor right away.
- Has anyone expressed concern about your “overuse” of opioid painkillers?
- Have you taken opioid painkillers for more than two weeks?
- Are you taking more than the doctor prescribed, for any reason?
- Are you getting opioid painkiller prescriptions from more than one doctor?
- Are you hiding opioid painkillers in more than one location at home or at work?
- Are things in your life improving or getting worse? Be honest with yourself.
Medical Detox Is The Safe Solution To OxyContin Addiction
In Florida, OxyContin addiction is an epidemic. The first step to recovering your life is an OxyContin detox program. At Novus Medical Detox® Center, in Pasco County, Fl, we are proud to provide a better, more effective OxyContin detox program than other detox centers.
At Novus, our patients are thrilled with the results, and thrilled that the experience was so much easier than they imagined it would be. OxyContin detox at Novus provides features other programs do not, such as:
- Personal attention from skilled, experienced staff, from arrival to departure.
- Comfort and confidentiality are enhanced by private or comfortable shared rooms.
- Safety and comfort are assured through 24/7 medical supervision.
- Each patients’ health needs are personally and precisely addressed.
- Medications are prescribed to ease discomfort or enhance detoxification.
- Nutritional IV’s with vitamins, minerals and amino acids significantly assist a healthy response to detox.
- Appetizing, home-cooked meals are prepared to your personal taste.
- Natural supplements help to assure complete nutrition.