Oxycodone Addiction PDF Print E-mail

ARC, West Los Angeles  California

Oxycodone derives its name from codeine, and is a highly addictive opioid analgesic medication. Oxycodone addiction is extremely dangerous and can result in fatality. ARC provides onsite medical detoxification services including the advanced medical protocols of Buprenorphine detox and Subutex detox. If you or someone you know is suffering from Oxycodone addiction call 877 415 HOPE today. Our credentialed staff will answer any questions you have and help you to find the recovery resources you need.

Oxycodone comes in several forms, all of which are highly addictive. A few of the Oxycodone based medications are:

Origin of Oxycodone Addiction

Oxycodone is an agonist opioid often referred to as “hillbilly heroin.” Opioids derive their name from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) which was first cultivated in 3400 BC in lower Mesopotamia. Ancient Sumerians, Babylonians and Egyptians smoked extracted seed pods from the plant for the pleasurable, peaceful feeling experienced through the entire body. The Sumerians referred to the poppy plant as “Hul Gil” which roughly translates to “Joy Plant”. Within a few decades cultivation and use of the plant spread to the Arabian Peninsula and soon reached India and China. Historic accounts refer to social problems stemming from addiction to the Joy Plant, but there is no conclusive evidence to describe any ancient addiction treatment approaches that might have been utilized by the cultures of the time.

Oxycodone was first synthesized in Germany in 1916 as a semi-synthetic opioid derived from the alkaloid thebaine. Up until this time most opium-derived drugs (morphine and heroin) had used the morphine or codeine alkaloids found in the opium poppy. Due to the addictive qualities of morphine and heroin, which had been mass produced by pharmaceutical companies like Bayer, it was anticipated that thebaine-derived drug Oxycodone would retain the analgesic capability of morphine and heroin but not carry with it the high capacity for addiction and abuse. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Despite the subjective “high” reported by patients taking Oxycodone the medication still made its way out of Germany and into Western countries for medicinal use. In the face of growing reports indicating the drugs high risk of abuse new production techniques for Oxycodone rapidly boosted the number of people being prescribed the drug and problems resulting from Oxycodone addiction began to increase.

The Dangers of Oxycodone Addiction

As with all Opioids, Oxycodone can be fatal in high doses or when combined with other CNS depressants, such as alcohol. Although there is a growing public awareness regarding the number of documented fatalities resulting from Oxycodone addiction, this has done little to deter Oxycodone abusers from continuing to combine the drug with other CNS depressants. This is due largely in part to the powerful euphoric effects of the drug, which often overcomes rational thought and greatly increases the risks of overdose for those who are addicted. People addicted to Oxycodone often state that pursuit of the euphoria from the drug, coupled with the powerful withdrawal effects from its absence in their system, will take the place of all basic human requirements such as the need for food and water.

Acute Withdrawal Symptoms from Oxycodone Addiction

At ARC we provide onsite medical detoxification services for the withdrawal symptoms associated with Oxycodone addiction. We treat both acute and post-acute symptoms with medical attention and clinical support. Clients detox in a comfortable, dignified environment under the supervision and support of physicians, nurses and licensed professionals.

Our fundamental understanding of the nature of Oxycodone addiction and its subsequent withdrawal symptoms makes our treatment approach comprehensive and unique. Some of the acute symptoms associated with Oxycodone withdrawal are.

  • Craving
  • Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Vomiting
  • Restlessness
  • Muscle and bone pain
  • Leg movements (“kicking”)
  • Cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey")

Major withdrawal symptoms for Oxycodone addiction peak between 24 and 72 hours after the last dose of the drug and subside after about a week. However, some people show persistent post-acute withdrawal symptoms for many months.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms from Oxycodone Addiction

  • Craving cycles
  • Stress sensitivity
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Memory problems
  • Inability to think clearly
  • Physical coordination problems
  • Emotional fluctuations or emotional “numbness”

The primary challenge with post-acute withdrawal symptoms is in their accumulative affect. While traditional drug rehabs support clients experiencing post-acute withdrawal symptoms by imparting the spiritual philosophy that “this to shall pass” ARC focuses more on medically treating the physical post-acute symptoms and clinically supporting their psychological manifestations. This patient, comprehensive, medical and clinical coupling helps each client overcome Oxycodone addiction and to transition into the primary care portion of the program where a durable foundation in recovery can commence to be formed.

ARC Treatment for Oxycodone Addiction is Unique

During primary care the ARC treatment philosophy is designed to address the underlying causes and conditions that have contributed to the onset of Oxycodone addiction. Each client is assigned a primary clinician who develops a personalized treatment plan with specific objectives that support clients in identifying and achieving their short-term and long-term recovery goals.

In the day-to-day treatment curriculum individual therapy is the cornerstone of the treatment process. A variety of therapeutic approaches are implemented based on each client’s individual needs. Some of these are:

  • Grief Therapy
  • Trauma Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy
  • Reflective Therapy
  • Analytical Therapy
  • Insight-Based Therapy
  • Reason-Based Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Education about the physiological impact of Oxycodone is also an important element in recovering from Oxycodone addiction. ARC provides educational groups which are designed to impart an inherent understanding of the physiological bi-products attributed to post-acute Oxycodone withdrawal. This helps clients to cope with some of the unique emotional characteristics of post-acute withdrawal with a growing sense of hope that they are not alone and that addiction recovery is possible. (A myriad of the ARC staff are in recovery from Oxycodone addiction and/or Oxycodone-based compounds and serve as empathetic, recovering role-models)

ARC offers an experiential therapy program and year-round outdoor recreational activities. These programs help clients alleviate stress and serves to promote a growing sense of personal enthusiasm for living Oxycodone free. Our regional weather and local natural resources (Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains) ensures enjoyment during these activities beneath the Southern California sun. All the ARC experiential programs are designed to meet the physical conditioning of each participant and take place weekly.

As clients progress through primary care they may choose to enroll in Phase 2 Continuing Care or Phase 3 Extended Care . These programs are designed to meet the ongoing and transitional needs of clients continuing their road to sustained Oxycodone addiction recovery. When circumstances or time constraints prevent participation in further residential care, an aftercare plan is developed for each client by their primary clinician. This helps clients to overcome unforeseen future challenges during a long-lasting recovery from Oxycodone addiction.

As a component of Primary Care, the ARC family program addresses any issues that have evolved from the addictive process. This program helps to prioritize the multitude of problems that have developed and begins the process of resolution and reconciliation for clients and their loved ones. It serves as a great starting point for a new chapter to unfold in the lives of all those who have been impacted by the devastation of Oxycodone addiction.

If you or someone you know is struggling with Oxycodone addiction call 877 415 HOPE today. Our credentialed staff will answer any additional questions you might have about achieving addiction recovery.