Prescription painkillers have played a major role in the opioid epidemic since the introduction of oxycodone, or Oxy, in the 1990s as an allegedly safe and non-addictive pain-reliever. In time, it became clear that Oxy is as addictive as other opioids, and the spike in the abuse of prescription pain medications at that time was notable. For anyone struggling with painkiller abuse or prescription drug addiction, Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC) offers opiate rehab in Rehrersburg.
If you are concerned about your painkiller abuse or that of someone you care about, reach out to PAATC today for helpful information about prescription drug addiction, rehab options in Pennsylvania, and the process of getting started on the path to recovery. Our staff is here for you, and all questions are welcome. We want you to be informed and feel comfortable seeking the help you deserve. Contact us via online form or phone. Our number is 844.442.8673.
Warning Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
Painkiller abuse can lead to physical symptoms such as seizures, gastrointestinal upset, depressed breathing, and heart issues. However, it is often easier to notice the behavioral signs of addiction long before you are alerted to physical ailments related to prescription drug abuse.
If you recognize yourself or someone else in the warning signs below, please know that painkiller abuse can be stopped, and you can regain your health and sobriety with support from a rehab facility.
- Doctor shopping – Often, those who started using painkillers for medical purposes become addicted. To continue accessing prescription medication, they may juggle a range of doctors and pharmacies to maintain access to their drug. For those dependent on a drug, there is no question about ethics. Their need justifies their means.
- Stealing – Eventually, someone with an opioid use disorder (OUD) will run out of legitimate ways to access their prescription painkillers. A situation like a doctor shopping that you once would have considered unethical now seems justifiable – stealing. If you are stealing drugs from family or friends or money to purchase illegally sold prescription painkillers, you are addicted.
- Professional and financial fallout – Drug-seeking, using, and recovery takes up so much time and mental and emotional bandwidth that people with an OUD neglect their responsibilities at work. Absenteeism, delay, failure to meet deadlines or show up at meetings, and damage to professional relationships can lead to censure, probation, and job loss. The subsequent financial troubles intensify the cycle of addiction.
- Relationship loss – Having the support of loved ones when battling drug abuse and addiction is important. Yet, most people with an OUD or other addiction have the impulse to self-isolate to focus on drug use and avoid discovery or confrontation. The tendency to lie and withdraw from the people who care puts an enormous strain on even the most enduring relationships. As loved ones and family are increasingly sidelined, the greater the dangers to you. You need your loved ones to hold you accountable and weigh in when you are in trouble – even when you don’t want to hear it.
How to Stop Painkiller Abuse?
So many people start taking painkillers innocently. They want to eliminate pain, which affects the body and mind and often makes daily life difficult. Trading in pain for addiction is just as challenging – and addiction is a chronic disease that cannot be cured. But have faith – you can stop the abuse and live in recovery, free of the iron grip of addiction.
What to do?
- Learn as much as you can about your options. Reach out to rehab facilities, have an honest conversation with your physician, and begin to contemplate the possibility of trading in prescription painkillers for wellness and sobriety.
- Narrow down your list of rehab options to two or three and go for a visit. Be prepared with questions about everything from evidence-based therapies to inpatient vs. outpatient rehab to insurance coverage and costs.
- Enroll in rehab that will work with your lifestyle while best serving your recovery needs, based on your medical and psychiatric history and severity of the addiction.
- Include your family and close friends. Not only will they have an opportunity to engage with you in family therapy, but they can also be your greatest supporters during and after rehab, holding you accountable and offering you emotional and practical scaffolding to help you stick with your recovery.
- Plan your aftercare. In collaboration with your rehab facility, figure out what you’ll do after discharge. Many addiction treatment programs have an aftercare option with continued therapy and sober social events. Continuing to be part of a peer support group such as a 12-step program is also very important.
Find the Opiate Rehab in Rehrersburg Necessary at PAATC
Don’t wait. Call us at 844.442.8673 or reach out via online form to speak to someone on our staff and learn more about how to stop your painkiller abuse and start recovery. Our evidence-based therapies are available in our residential and outpatient programs.
You and your well-being are our priority. Let us be part of your journey.
