Oxycontin addiction, how to recover?

Question

I have a relative who is addicted to Oxycontin. He started taking it for a back injury and it developed in to abuse. He says that when he tries to quit he freaks and can't function in any normal manner. He spent two weeks at a well known clinic for detox, came home and started using again. He then spent another 4 days in a different detox situation. (I don't know what happened there) Now he's home and using again.
This isn't the kind of man you expect to this. He's got a beautiful home, three small girls and a wife. He's just hooked on these pills and he's destroying his life and family. As his relative I want very much to help him somehow. Can anyone offer advice? Inpatient treatment for a longer period of time is possible, but other than that? Anyone here ever recovered from this type of addiction? Please help if you can...

He HAS threatened suicide because he says he feels so bad when he's NOT on the medication...

Answer 1

Well hon, I will tell you what worked for me. I was hooked on ultram. Some people say it is not addicting. But I am here to tell you it is. If I couldnt get ultam, I would take anything, like percocet, oxycotin,vicodin, anything, because if I didnt my body would just ache.I wanted to stop, God knows I did , but I couldnt function feeling sick all the time.I am sure that is how your relative feels. No rehab or detox is going to work because it didnt for me. I bet your relative is hurting bad without anything. I was on the verge of suicide. I couldnt live this way anymore. Some days I couldnt get anything because I didnt have any money or I couldnt find it anywhere.And oh, I would be sick.I would sit on the toilet with a bucket in my hand because I would be throwing up plus diareaha at the same time.I heard people talk aboout methadone before but I thought it was only for heroin addicts. I went to talk to a clinic about it and they said I could sign up. That pain pills was just like herion, it was an opiat. I cant spell that word. I hope you know what it is.People say alot of bad things about methadone, but it sure saved my life.I would tell any body hooked on pills to get into a methadone clinic. I have been clean of pills for five years now.ISo I would tell your relative about this as soon as you can.I will have you both in my prayers.

Answer 2

Detox is just the beginning. Extensive counseling is needed and aftercare. I have known folks who have gotten off of oxy. Required at a minimum 42 days of residential treatment and then a year of aftercare (usually 1 day a week). If your relative is lucky enough to be able to take time off from work etc then that is the best way to do it. Before he is ready to do this, or if he doesn't choose to do this he can go to any NA meeting or AA meeting in his area. They will help even if he is still using.

Answer 3

I would ween him off slowly. I was on morphine for six months for burns and I just slowly lowered the dose every day. I was never addicted, but I would never want to go cold turkey. Its painful. One way is for him to take a mood stabilizer with pain killing properies like topamax while he weens himself down. This would get rid of any muscle cramp/nerve pains in withdrawl. I suggest sending him to a psychiatrist while he is going though drug rehab. The goal is not to take pills, but to be oxycotin free.

Answer 4

The best program that I know of is at least a month in patient and then Narcotics Anonymous with family support.
I have no personal experience as I do not get addicted (VERY fortunate, Blessed by God)

Answer 5

NA or anther 12 step program help some. there are long treatment places that do Inpatient and then do out patien or sometime half house settings. but that can be costly and pointless unless he's willing and ready to quit.

Answer 6

he may have to try a different program. did he ask his doctor? i had to take ms contin for several years for back problems. when i tried to quit cold turkey i did like him. finally quit by lowering dosage, then taking less meds a day