Percocet Addiction and Abuse: Professional Treatment in Idaho Makes Recovery Possible

Percocet Addiction and Abuse: Professional Treatment in Idaho Makes Recovery Possible Detox and rehab are usually needed to help people get off this drug, and recovering can be extremely difficult. Fortunately, with the right support, it is possible. People only need to know where to turn to get the help they need.

The CDC reports that close to 218,000 people died from prescription opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2017. By the time 2017 came along, the number of deaths was five times higher than it was in 1999. Percocet has been a popular drug of abuse, but many people are unaware of the dangers of using it. They assume that because it is a prescription medication, that must make it safe.https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/pbVuiu6RheE

We want to help make more people aware of the risks involved with abusing Percocet. It is possible to get addicted to it within a very short period of time. But the probability of addiction is only one of the dangers of this opioid drug. It can also have a negative impact on physical and mental health in the short and long-term. It is our hope that we can help people see the effects of Percocet as well as how to recover from the addiction.

What Is Percocet?

Percocet belongs to a class of drugs known as opioids, meaning they are either derived from the opium poppy (like morphine and opium) or are synthetically created to have similar effects to these drugs.

Percocet itself is actually a combination of two different compounds – oxycodone (an opioid) and acetaminophen (a mild pain reliever). While it might seem strange to add an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen (better known as Tylenol) to a prescription strength opioid, the truth is that this drug actually enhances the strength of the opioid.

When taken properly, it can be incredibly effective at treating persistent pain like that caused by a back injury or an invasive surgery.

It does so by stimulating specialized cells in the brain and the body known as opioid receptors. These receptors are responsible for regulating pain tolerance, sedation, and certain aspects of mood as well.

And while this drug is, in fact, prescription medication and can only be legally obtained from a doctor, it still has a dangerously high risk of addiction. And that means that even people taking this drug legitimately may end up developing a dependency accidentally.

In fact, the problem of accidental dependency on prescription opioids is so severe that the CDC even states that an astounding 1 in 4 patients receiving long-term opioid therapy struggles with addiction to these pills.

Just because it’s legal, then, doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Side Effects of Percocet

How Does Percocet Addiction Occur?

From your very first dose of Percocet, you’re going to feel the pain-relieving capabilities of the drug, but you’re also going to feel its other effects too.

Percocet is an opiate, which means it behaves very similarly to other drugs in its class. As a result, you’re probably going to feel an increased sensation of being calm and relaxed.

Beyond that, though, Percocet also causes excess amounts of dopamine (the “feel good” chemical) to be released into the central nervous system as well. This is what’s responsible for the euphoria that comes with abusing this drug.

As the brain gets more accustomed to that intense rush of dopamine, it starts craving more and more of what caused it. Added to that, everything else that used to cause a burst of dopamine to be released – a delicious meal, the end of a great book, sexual release – all begin to pale in comparison.

As a result, the old activities you loved because they gave you pleasure simply don’t hold the same appeal anymore. Now, the only thing that can cause that rush of dopamine is abusing Percocet.

And it isn’t just your brain that’s starting to change because of heavy Percocet abuse either. As your abuse becomes more and more common, your body starts to adapt to the continual presence of this drug as well.

It’s because of these physical changes that you start developing what’s known as tolerance to Percocet. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), tolerance is defined as:

when the person no longer responds to the drug in the way that person initially responded. Stated another way, it takes a higher dose of the drug to achieve the same level of response achieved initially.

And as that tolerance continues to build, you continue to increase your dosage, making your addiction more expensive, more consuming, and even more dangerous.

What’s the Difference Between Abuse, Dependence, & Addiction?

What Are the Signs of Percocet Addiction?

Am I Addicted?

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What Are the Effects of Percocet Addiction?

As with any other dependence problem, addiction to Percocet can wreak havoc on your personal life.

Not only can habitually abusing this drug cause you to lose your job, get in trouble with the law, jeopardize your friendships, and alienate your family, it can also cause severe short-term and long-term effects that might change your life forever.

Understanding the consequences of your Percocet addiction, then, might end up being one of the best means of convincing you to get help today.

What Are the Short-Term Effects?

What Are the Long-Term Effects?

How Has the Opioid Epidemic Impacted Idaho?

The opioid epidemic was borne as a result of physicians overprescribing these drugs for their patients. But they only did so because pharmaceutical companies assured them that these medications were non-addictive. Years passed, and during that time, providers continued to prescribe these drugs at higher rates. It was a long time before it became clear just how addictive drugs like Percocet are.

Idaho has certainly been hit hard by this crisis, and so many people have lost their lives to overdoses. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that:

In the United States there were more than 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017.
Out of this number, 47,600 of them involved opioid drugs.
The biggest increase involved drugs that contained fentanyl, which resulted in the deaths of 28,400 people.
In Idaho, the majority of drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid drug.
During that year, Idaho doctors wrote 70.3 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in the state.
This number is Idaho’s lowest prescribing rate in more than 10 years.
However, it is still much higher than the national average, which was 58.7 prescriptions for every 100 people.

Idaho’s Response to the Opioid Epidemic

What Is Percocet Withdrawal Like?

It doesn’t take long for you to become addicted to Percocet, and if you try to quit on your own, you can experience painful physical and psychological problems known as withdrawals. Like other drugs in its class, these withdrawal symptoms that can be really hard to get through.

In fact, according to the online drug addiction community BlueLight, opioids like Percocet are tougher to get through than drugs like crack cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and oxymorphone (Opana).

Former addicts recovering from Percocet abuse problems report feeling symptoms similar to those of the flu – though to a much more severe degree. Some have even reported that these symptoms are 10 times as severe.

What Are the Physical Withdrawal Symptoms?

The physical withdrawals of addiction to Percocet can be quite overwhelming at times. Some of the most common ones according to Mental Health Daily are:

Diarrhea
Dilated pupils
Dizziness
Fatigue
Goose bumps
Headaches
Heart palpitations
High blood pressure
Hot flashes

Itchiness
Muscle aches
Nausea
Runny nose
Sweating
Vomiting
Watery eyes
Yawning

What Are the Psychological Withdrawals?

In addition to the overpowering physical symptoms of Percocet withdrawal, you’ll also likely experience a number of psychological difficulties as well.

And don’t be fooled – what goes on in your head during this phase can be just as excruciating as what goes on in your body.

Some of the most common psychological withdrawal symptoms are:

Agitation
Anxiety
Concentration problems
Cravings
Crying spells
Depression
Insomnia
Irritability
Memory problems
Panic attacks
Paranoia
Suicidal thoughts

Is Percocet Withdrawal Deadly?

While the symptoms of Percocet withdrawal are undoubtedly quite painful to endure, they aren’t dangerous on their own.

Can Percocet cause seizures? No.

Does Percocet withdrawal cause comas? No.

In the end, the withdrawals alone from this drug aren’t going to end up costing you your life.

However, there are a few things about going through Percocet addiction withdrawal that can be deadly.

Complications

Accidental Overdose

What Is the Timeline for Percocet Withdrawal?

Just as everyone experiences addiction differently, so too will withdrawal timelines differ from person to person. While one person may be back on their feet within just a few days, others may struggle with symptoms for weeks at a time.

It all depends on a number of factors ranging from unique genetic makeup and the severity of the addiction to individual body type and the strength of your support system.

That being said, most opioid withdrawals tend to last for around 4 to 10 days.

According to MedlinePlus, the symptoms you’ll experience during this time depend on what phase of withdrawal you’re in: early withdrawal or late withdrawal.

Early Withdrawal

Late Withdrawal

What Medications Help with Percocet Withdrawal?

Getting clean from your addiction to Percocet can take some work – that much is clear. But luckily, there are a number of medications that you can use to reduce both the severity and duration of your withdrawals.

In general, these medications fall into two separate categories: symptom-specific medications and Opioid Replacement Therapies (ORTs).

Symptom-Specific Medications

Depending on what kind of detoxification program you’re in, your physician may prescribe a variety of medications to help you get through your withdrawals comfortably and safely.

These drugs may include anti-anxiety medications like Ativan to help ease psychological symptoms, sleep aids to treat your insomnia, Imodium and other OTC drugs for gastrointestinal problems, and more.

It’s worth remembering, though, that some of these drugs may be addictive, so it’s important that they are only taken under the supervision of a medical professional.

Opioid Replacement Therapies (ORTs)

What Is Addiction Treatment Like?

Without a doubt, checking into a Percocet treatment program is by far the safest way to recover from your addiction.

But what are the different kinds of programs available? How do they help in recovery? And how do you know which one is right for you?

It all may seem a bit overwhelming right now, but once you learn a bit about the process, you’ll be even more prepared for treatment, sobriety, and eventually for long-term recovery.

What Is Detox Treatment for Percocet Addiction?

What Is Rehabilitation & How Can It Help?

How Do I Find the Right Treatment Facility?

The Importance of Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders During Rehab

When treating anyone with a Percocet addiction, it is important to determine if they are suffering from a co-occurring disorder. In many cases, the individual is suffering, but they may not be aware of it.

A co-occurring disorder is a mental health condition that often leads people to abuse drugs and/or alcohol. They start abusing substances as a way to self-medicate their symptoms away, and it may work for a while. But over time, so much damage is done by the drug, and the help the person was receiving starts to disappear.Percocet Addiction and Abuse: Professional Treatment in Idaho Makes Recovery Possible

When treating a patient with a co-occurring disorder, dual diagnosis treatment is necessary. This ensures that they are getting treated for both the addiction and the mental illness at the same time. It is so important for the patient to see the connection between the two. Treating them simultaneously gives the patient the best possible chance of recovering.

Our Inpatient Addiction Treatment Program in Idaho

Northpoint Recovery offers one of the best drug treatment programs in Idaho. We are located in Boise, and it is a 28-day program that includes both detox and rehab.

We understand how important it is for addicts to receive treatment for the physical and psychological parts of their addictions. That is why we include detoxification services. Many of our Percocet-addicted patients receive medication-assisted treatment as they go through the detox process. We offer Vivitrol services as an alternative to more traditional ORT medications. Percocet Addiction and Abuse: Professional Treatment in Idaho Makes Recovery Possible

After our patients detox, they move on to rehab, which takes place under the same roof. There, they receive many different types of therapy, including individual sessions, group therapy and more.

Get More Information About Percocet Abuse, Addiction, Detox and Rehab in Idaho

At Northpoint Recovery, we truly care about our patients. We know how hard it can be to get off Percocet, which is why we only use proven treatment methods. Our success rate is much higher than many of the other rehabilitation centers in our area. That is because of how we invest in our patients and equip them to live their lives substance-free.https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/1Z1u_IPwbYI