what can be done to help an oxycontin addict who is destroying his and other's lives but who doesn't?

Question

show up for treatments? What does it feel like to take it? Does the abuser retain normal thought patterns? Do they not care about anything but the drug? If they are crushing it up an snorting it, what health effects are there?

Answer 1

All people are different when it comes to "how" they are taking it. It produces a euphoric and pain killing effect. BUT.....you need to know that the euphoria only lasts so long, (cannot give an exact amount of time bc' everyone is different), but for myself, it was only about 6 months.
After this.....the addiction does become ALL CONSUMING and holds NO bearing on what the addict actually feels, loves and hold near and dear; i.e: children, spouse, career,,,etc...

From that point on, the only thing that matters is NOT RUNNING OUT of the drug, and this being ONLY TO KEEP THE WITHDRAWALS off.

For a better idea, a GREAT illustration of what a narc-addict goes thru when coming off of OC.....watch both the RAY CHARLES MOVIE, and THE Johnny Cash "WALK THE LINE" movies. Both are great at showing HOW MUCH HELL IT IS TO BREAK THE ADDICTION. I prefer the Ray Charles movie, more so---because it really hit home when I watched it.

Understand that if your loved one actually needs the drug- then they should by all means have human rights to be free of CHRONIC PAIN. BUT!!!!-----Often times, the newfound feeling one gets, makes them want to keep on feeling it. So, in turn, they take the next dose just " a little bit sooner": this turns into popping many more pills a day than they should take, which could turn into overdose.... :*(

The whole whooo-rah about OxyContin is that it is an EXTENDED RELEASE med. IT SHOULD BE TAKEN THAT WAY. It is literally a GOD SEND for me, bc I do suffer chronic pain from a variety of nerve disorders. BUT....once again.....I have known many folks who have used various means to melt away the time release coating and crush it into a spoon. Most do not heat it. They take either a filter from a cigarette butt, or a cotton ball...and get access to needles for Diabetics this way. Then mix it with water only enough to draw it up. This is termed "bangin': the OC. Then of course, they shoot up in the most likely candidate of veins...usually in the arm or hand, some rare times...the ankle works too.
Snorting the drug occurs likewise.

Irregardless, most people are severely uneducated when they first begin taking a narcotic. Its recreational and "is no big deal"....then over time, they find themselves doing ANYTHING to get it. Selling all belongings, stealing, prostitution.....etc.

The reason Vicodin aka LORTAB and Oxycontin (Percocet) are the number one most abused drug in America is clear. Going thru the withdrawals is LIFE THREATENING, painful, and the most miserable feeling that lasts for weeks. Alot of what the textbooks and doctors say is true, but remember--most of them have never been addicted. Alot of it is omitted. Basically, anyone you talk to will tell you that they'd rather die than go thru the withdrawals.

Try to be understanding, as I said before- people don't willingly experiment with this caliber of drug if they ALREADY KNOW what it will do to them. Then there are people such as myself, who have NO choice...it serves its rightful purpose in my case bc' without it, I wouldnt be able to walk-nor would I be able to dress myself, I could not lay in any position that did not give me screaming pain, I could not play with my children, much less; dress them or take care of them. OC gave me my life back until my disease degenerates to the point of being a rightful candidate for surgery.

I have gone thru hell with withdrawal. My insurance lapsed, and I went without it for almost 3 days, and I came VERY close to going to the hospital. But, even with a doctor-induced addiction, there is a stigma attached to being ADDICTED to anything. I could'nt handle the idea of any doctor not making note of thus while treating me. Thankfully, family came thru and I was able to buy it out of pocket. $600.00 plus so I would'nt have to suffer the evils of withdrawals.

Please know that, more than likely-I can vouch for whomever it is you are speaking of in your question....even though they love you and others around them, and have ambitions....does not mean that thier love ends when the drug is gone. It is just that the withdrawal is so HORRIBLE that a person cannot think about ANYTHING else in that moment when it feels like they are dying because it is not in thier system in its full capacity....and even still---it is leaving thier system at the same time. IT IS HELL ON EARTH.
There are many resources online to come off of narcotic drugs. But it has to be the persons option, if forced, or not done under medical supervision.....it can lead to seizures and full cardiac arrest. This is why it is so scary to try to come clean.

I hope this helped, I feel for you-as I do my own family who have stood by me and taken care of me any time I was "sick" from w/d's. Be supportive and loving. If it is recreational born, then the person should use the taper method; in which they take smaller doses each day, over a very slow, long period of time. This will NOT remove the w/d symptoms altogether when the taper has come to an end, but will significantly deplete them, THUS, making that final step to not take another pill much more within thier ability.

GOD BLESS YOU and WHOMEVER HE OR SHE IS
THAT BATTLES THE DEMON OF NARCOTIC ADDICTION:
be in prayer, and trust GOD. I know one can reclaim thier life if that in fact, is what they really want to do.
amen.

Answer 2

overcoming a drug addiction is tough which not many people can endure. The best way is to put him into rehab and at the same time giving him consulation.

After he sucessfully kicked the habit, keep a watch out for him because its easy to get addicted again and teh drug dealer might mist probably come and bug him to buy drugs.

Its not a easy job and his family must play a big role in directing him back to the correct path.

Answer 3

You can't help anyone who has an addiction. He/she has to want to be helped.

I often wonder why people can't see that those who become addicted have had problems for a long time and could have been helped by early intervention.

It's sad that so often we don't accept another's angst as a serious problem because it doesn't affect us in the same manner. Doesn't make the pain any easier when we measure it by our personal yardstick.

Answer 4

First of all, the abuser has to want to be helped...and then he/she should get help from a proessional agency if possible...rehab is definitley the suggestion and if he/she is refusing to admit they are having a problem,freinds should schedule an intervention and let the abuser know there is a problem that is not only affecting him/her but the entire extended family.

Answer 5

He could quit if he really wanted to but apparently sees no reason to quit. An addict is a selfish person and oblivious to others around them. All they care about is themselves and the drug.