Investigate Tallahassee Treatment Services
As the capital city of Florida, Tallahassee is known as a center of government, culture and education. Unfortunately, Florida is also known for its high rate of prescription drug abuse, and Tallahassee drug rehab centers are treating many clients for addictions to pain medication or tranquilizers.
If chronic pain has led you to drug dependence, a multi-disciplinary treatment program may restore your health and free you from addiction.
The Need for Entering a Rehabilitation Program
Florida’s lack of an adequate system to track prescriptions has resulted in a proliferation of “pill mills”: fly-by-night pain clinics where doctors write quick prescriptions for powerful pain meds like OxyContin. National Public Radio reports that physicians in Florida prescribe more oxycodone than in any other state.
Tallahassee addiction treatment programs face the challenge of helping their clients find safe, healthy ways to cope with chronic pain while overcoming drug dependence.
What makes OxyContin addiction such a widespread problem in Tallahassee and other Florida cities? OxyContin is a powerful, time-release opioid pain medication that relieves physical discomfort and generates sensations of well-being. Although the medication is very effective at treating chronic pain, it has a high abuse potential and can produce dangerous side effects, like life-threatening respiratory depression.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, OxyContin withdrawal can cause:
- Agitation
- Muscle pain
- Cold flashes
- Bone pain
- Restless leg movements
At a medically supervised rehab program, you’ll be monitored by professionals who can help you manage your symptoms and remain focused on recovery.
What Makes OxyContin So Addictive?
OxyContin, or oxycodone hydrochloride, is an opioid analgesic that’s prescribed to provide 24-hour relief of moderate to severe pain. The pills are coated with a special coating that slows down the release of the medication, so you can have pain relief around the clock.
The
Partnership at Drugfree.org notes that when the time-release coating is removed, OxyContin can produce a fast surge of euphoria that’s similar to heroin. That’s what makes the drug so seductive — and so dangerous.
Get Rehabilitation Services in Tallahassee
Because OxyContin is a prescription medication, many users mistakenly assume that it’s safer to use than opioid street drugs like heroin, which may be mixed with harmful substances. In fact, an OxyContin overdose can be just as deadly as a heroin overdose. If you’re ready to admit that your pain management program has gotten out of control, a Tallahassee treatment center can help.
We can provide a list of comprehensive rehab programs in your area, so you can start a new, drug-free life while finding a safer way to deal with chronic pain.
Overdosing from heroin is always a dangerous possibility.3 Some signs of a heroin overdose include:
- Shallow breathing.
- Slow breathing.
- Convulsions.
- Pinpoint pupils.
- Confusion.
- Coma.
- Death.
Some believe that a person must hit rock bottom, such as experiencing an overdose, before they can recover, but this is untrue.4 Hitting a certain low point is never a requirement to turn your life around. The truth is you can take that first step towards a sober life at any point during your addiction. Treatment can be found in a Tallahassee rehab center or in other facilities in different cities or states by searching our directory.
Sources
- University of Florida Health. Florida Drug-Related Outcomes Surveillance and Tracking System (FROST).
- Medical Examiners Commission. (2018). Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons by Florida Medical Examiners.
- Center for Substance Abuse Research. (2013). Heroin.
- Connecticut State Department of Public Health. (2018). Prescription Drug Overdose in Teens and Young Adults.