When someone consumes an addictive drug, they can become addicted to the way it makes them feel, and they can also become physically addicted to the substance. In the UK, 72.4% of people in treatment for opioid use disorder are male (1). People recovering from an overdose should be observed for several hours until the effects of naloxone have worn off to be sure that no side effects of the opioid remain.

Ongoing treatment may include long-term counseling and support and medications such as naltrexone. Product information for opioids in the UK will include consistent warnings of the risks of tolerance and dependence and addiction. Patients may find that treatment is less effective with long-term use and express a need to increase the dose to obtain the same level of pain control as initially experienced.

Even though relapse is most common during the initial stage of withdrawal, you may become tempted to return to drug use at any other time in recovery. Ongoing treatment or aftercare is key to preventing relapse and maintaining a sober lifestyle. Sober living homes offer a safe, trigger-free environment, allowing you to work or attend school, as you work on your recovery. Substance abuse and addiction results in a chemical change to your brain. In time, your brain becomes used to the presence of oxycodone and considers it a normal substance.

Opiates and opioids

During withdrawal, methadone and buprenorphine pharmacotherapy offer similar outcomes, but buprenorphine is usually preferred because of its lower chances of sedation and respiratory depression. After your condition has stabilised for three to five days, your dose is then reduced over a period of two or more weeks. During your detox process, doctors may prescribe medications that work by making your brain think it is getting oxycodone. Some of the medications provided during your detox process may include Clonidine, Suboxone and Naltrexone, and they are very effective in helping with certain withdrawal symptoms that occur in the detox process. Even though it is classified as an opiate and may result in a transfer of addictions without proper care taken, Methadone can also be used in the oxycodone detox process. Prescription drug addiction is a serious condition that is characterised by individuals repeatedly taking or administering prescription medication, until they are no longer able to function without it.

Side Effects

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – CBT is a type of therapy which helps you to identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours. It is often used in opiate rehab as it can be very effective in helping to break the cycle of your condition and build self-esteem. Most of the time, people go for up to eight hours every single weekday. During those hours, a person will go to various forms of therapy, meet with doctors, partake in support groups, etc. People abusing OxyContin and other opioids are at a high risk of overdose, higher than some other forms of drugs. When someone begins to become dependent on OxyContin, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when they do not use the drug.

Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Others go to illegal suppliers (drug dealers) to buy opiate-based painkillers (such as Vicodin, Hydrocodone, Morphine and OxyContin) as mood-altering drugs. We recommend that you bring causal clothes as well as money in case you need to buy anything during your stay with us at inpatient rehab. We provide all toiletries such as shampoo and shower gels, in addition to towels, bed linen, and bathrobes. You’re welcome to bring your own toiletries; however, mouthwash has to be strictly alcohol-free. We also allow electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets as we have free Wi-Fi available.

However, it is used in cases where relapse is very likely, in order to maintain long-term sobriety for the patient’s well-being. Finally, patients may have issues that are not directly related to their opioid use disorder, or in fact not at all related. These issues will not all be resolved or improved by the same type of therapy. Something else that is different for each patient is the personal relationship with opioids.

The drug is an opioid analgesic, a form of pain treatment that is prone to abuse – often by people who manipulate the formulation so it can be taken via injection or by snorting. Besides, opiate addicts use it to control withdrawal symptoms when heroin or morphine is unavailable. Oxycodone has similar effects on the brain as morphine and heroin and hence appeals to the same abuse group.

This therapy can be part of our 7, 21, or 28-day inpatient treatment programmes, which are underpinned by the well-known 12-step programme to addiction recovery. The road to recovery can be long and difficult, but you can successfully navigate it. The first step is to decide to get sober, followed by a choice of methods you want to use to achieve your goal. An inpatient rehab offering medical detox is usually a highly effective option to get treatment, whether you have a mild or severe oxycodone addiction.

If you aren’t ready, feel unable or don’t want to have treatment for heroin dependence, there are a number of ways you can still reduce the potential harm from injecting or smoking heroin. There is evidence that there is a higher risk of fatal overdose in the first weeks of taking methadone, compared to buprenorphine. However, there is also evidence that people who take methadone are more likely to stay in treatment. Currently, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend one OST over another. A number of psychological and social treatments are usually offered alongside treatment with medication.