Pain medication addiction is a major problem in the United States. Around 52 million Americans over the age of 12 have used prescription drugs non-medically in their lifetime. People from different backgrounds are abusing this drug, dying from it and committing crimes to obtain prescription medications. Young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 are the biggest abusers of anti-anxiety drugs, ADHD stimulants, and prescription opioid pain relievers.

It is important to get clean so that you can decrease your cravings and focus on rebuilding your life. If you suddenly stop using prescription medication, then you are going to go through withdrawals. Read on to find out how to overcome opioid withdrawals.

Why Withdrawals Are A Concern?

Opioids or prescription medications are prescribed for painful conditions like dental pain and for pain after surgery. Medications that fall in this category are morphine, codeine, Percocet, hydrocodone and drugs like heroin. You have to rid your body of the drugs before working on overcoming addiction.

It takes a lot of willpower to break free of opioids. Long-term prescription drug abuse affects every system in your body. Withdrawal symptoms include:

• Cravings
• Large pupils
• Diarrhea
• Yawning
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Chills and goose bumps
• Body aches
• Severe negative mood swings

It is difficult for someone with opioid addiction to go through these symptoms. For these reasons, many addicts relapse and continue to abuse prescription drugs.

Go To Substance Abuse Counseling

Substance abuse treatment can improve your chance of success. It is important for addicts to go through counseling because social and psychological factors are the main things that cause them to relapse. Common triggers are situations that remind your brain of the drug's pleasure and stress.

Going through behavioral counseling gives you access to support and coping mechanisms. You will visit a behavioral counseling on a regular schedule. The programs consist of individual, family and group counseling.

Behavioral counseling helps you work on the reasons why you started using drugs. It also gives you coping techniques to overcome cravings.  

Medications To Help With Detox

It is important to go to a substance abuse treatment center instead of getting off opioids cold turkey. These centers can give you medication to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Opioid addicts have a physical dependence on the drugs and are unable to just stop using.

Methadone is a common drug given to opioid addicts. The drug is an opioid drug. It stimulates the same opioid receptors but eliminates withdrawal symptoms. Methadone is given in small doses and it decreases your cravings. You also do not get the same euphoria effect as abusing prescription drugs. To prevent addiction, your doctor will slowly taper you off of methadone to stop physical dependence.

It is easy to start using drugs, but difficult to overcome addiction. However, it is possible with drug abuse treatment and support from your loved ones. For more information, contact a substance abuse treatment center, such as Ascent Behavioral Health Services.