Oxycodone Addiction

Supporting Someone Recovering From Oxycodone Addiction

 

What’s the best way you can protect your family member, loved one, or friend from the ravages of oxycodone addiction and/or relapse? First, consider the oxycontin addiction in context. Is your friend or family member injured or sick? Does he or she have a history of medical problems, psychological illnesses, or other instabilities? If so, these problems may intermingle with oxycodone dependence to create a difficult cocktail of medical and psychological issues.

 

Helping your friend or loved one get oxycodone detox treatment is a good first step. If you’re able to help hands-on with the treatment, the patient may be able to participate in outpatient healing supported by a medical staff. Buprenorphine therapy can resolve physical cravings for oxycodone and set the table for longer-term counseling. Moreover, if you can empower the patient to continue with his or her routine while undergoing oxycodone detox, this continuity itself can help with treatment.

 

Unfortunately, many concerned friends and family members often act either as enablers or as police officers when it comes to oxycodone monitoring. Remember that addictive cravings can be both physical and psychological in nature. Brain chemistry changes caused by overuse of oxycodone can last for months and can lead to accidental relapses.

 

You should also be aware that the body adjusts to doses of oxycodone. Thus, if your friend kicks opioids and then gives into a craving months later, if he or she takes a large dose, major medical problems and/or overdose can ensue. Thus, one of your best weapons in your therapeutic arsenal is education and a proper treatment plan -- make sure the person you care about knows the risks and consequences of oxycodone relapse, and keep him or her in individual therapy to work out remaining psychological triggers.