How to Treat Painkiller Addiction

Painkiller addiction is a serious disease that is becoming more and more prevalent as doctors prescribe painkillers like OxyContin, Vicodin, and Norco to treat pain. Patients continue taking their prescription drugs and eventually become dependent on them. Patients have a hard time quitting the drugs because doing so leads to a number of withdrawal symptoms.

A sudden discontinuation of painkillers can be very uncomfortable because it leads to intense withdrawal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating, twitching, back pain, and intense cravings for the drug. Although the symptoms of withdrawal are usually not life-threatening, they can be severe and last up to two to three weeks.

There is a difference between being addicted to pain killers and being dependent on them. You can become dependent on painkillers even if you take the drug for just a short amount of time. Dependence on pain killers can lead to withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them but for most people, the symptoms are mild enough to tolerate. Some patients may need to take the drug clonidine in order to weaken the symptoms they feel during the withdrawal process. However, people who are suffering from a true painkiller addiction will need to go through a drug rehab program.

Trying to end a painkiller addiction on your own can be very difficult because of the intensity and extreme discomfort caused by withdrawal symptoms. The best way to treat a painkiller addiction is through attending a drug rehab program. The first step in a drug rehab program is going through the detoxification process. During the detoxification process, the drug has to be completely cleared from the patient’s body. Another medication may be prescribed to substitute the painkiller. However, substituting the painkiller with yet another drug is not an acceptable treatment for many people because physical dependence on a drug continues. Abstinence is the ultimate goal of treatment for painkiller addiction.

In order to achieve abstinence, one must go through the detoxification process. Treatment for painkiller addiction has evolved to the point that it now includes what is known as rapid or ultra-rapid detoxification. During rapid detoxification, high doses of certain medications are administered to block painkiller cravings and shorten the duration of withdrawal symptoms. The patient goes under anesthesia so detoxification is rapidly induced. When the patient awakens from anesthesia, the detoxification process is complete. The withdrawal process lasts a few hours as opposed to several days when rapid or ultra-rapid detoxification is administered. The patient then continues to take the medication to reduce cravings for the painkiller.

While rapid and ultra-rapid detoxification addresses the physical aspect of painkiller addiction, it does not address the emotional one. People who have a recent history of substance abuse are more likely to have a painkiller addiction. Other risk factors for painkiller addiction include a high level of stress and emotional/psychiatric problems. People who have a psychological addiction to painkillers must get to the heart of the problem through behavioral therapy and counseling. A drug rehab program can provide you with the support you need to overcome both the physical and emotional aspects of painkiller addiction.

Toll Free: 1-877-538-5574 ... Local: 604-538-5574 ... Email: info@oceansrehab.com