Opioids can escalate from a helpful treatment to an addiction that threatens to derail your life. Treatments such as detoxification, counseling, and support groups offer hope if you are struggling to overcome your addiction.
Opioids, which are commonly known as painkillers, are prescribed for severe pain that does not respond to over-the-counter medications. Opioids can, however, become habit-forming if you take them for an extended period or if you take them more often than intended. These prescription drugs, which include oxycodone and hydrocodone, should only be used on a short-term basis. If you suspect that you have become dependent on these drugs, it is crucial to recognize the signs of drug addiction to pain pills and begin exploring your options for opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas.
Symptoms and Signs of opioid addiction
An addiction to prescription opioids can cause you to experience a wide range of physical and mental symptoms. These can include:
- The trouble with balance and coordination
- Slow breathing
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria
- Pain becomes worse when taking stronger doses
Opioid addiction can also cause changes in behavior. You may experience drastic mood swings, make poor decisions, sleep more or less than usual, and display unusually high or low levels of energy. You may also support your addiction through deceptive or illegal habits. These can include receiving pain pill prescriptions from different doctors, stealing or faking a doctor’s signature on prescriptions, or claiming to lose prescriptions so that your doctor must write new ones. If you recognize these signs of drug addiction to pain pills, it may be time to consider opioid addiction treatments at a medical facility in Arkansas.
Detoxification
If you are recovering from opioid addiction, the first step you will likely go through is detoxification. The detoxification process can help you cope with severe symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms can include:
- strong cravings for pain pills
- diarrhea
- nausea
- agitation
- chills
- body aches
Going through withdrawal can take several days or even weeks, which makes it crucial for you to do so under the care of an experienced medical professional. Medications are typically offered to lessen withdrawal symptoms and help your body become less dependent on opioids. Some of the medications used for opioid addiction treatments include methadone, buprenorphine, clonidine, and a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.
Counseling
Counseling for opioid addiction can be completed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. Meeting with a licensed counselor helps you learn about the patterns that contribute to your addictive behavior, what causes cravings, and the role that substances have played in your life. During your counseling sessions, you will acquire strategies for coping with stress and other factors that could trigger addictive behaviors and find out how you can ask for help when you are struggling with possible relapse.
While counseling is often completed in a one-on-one setting, family or group counseling can also be helpful. Family counseling teaches your loved ones how to support you and provide accountability throughout your recovery process. Healthy relationships with family and friends are a key aspect of your recovery. Group counseling provides emotional support from people who are also working to reclaim their lives from opioid addiction.
Support groups
While counseling is an important part of your recovery journey, support groups are just as important. Joining a support group and finding a sponsor who can provide valuable social and emotional support while you receive opioid addiction treatment strengthens your recovery process. Support groups can include local chapters that meet on a regular basis or social networks that are found online. Your treatment specialist or counselor may be able to recommend a nearby group or a website that has been successful for other people who are in recovery.
If you recognize the signs of drug addiction to pain pills and need opioid addiction treatment in Arkansas, contact ARcare to set up an appointment. Our compassionate, professional staff is committed to providing our state’s residents with the best possible medical care.