Oxycontin is an opioid pain medication that is typically used to relieve long-lasting pain. It has a time-release feature that typically gives up to 12 hours of pain relief, unlike regular pain medications which tend to only last for four hours.
Unfortunately, teen abuse of OxyContin is not uncommon. According to an NPR study, one in twenty teens acknowledge taking OxyContin and it is known to be a highly addictive drug. Typically, users crush or dissolve the drug which eliminates its time-release features, giving the user a rush of all of the drug’s effects at once. What can result are feelings of happiness or euphoria and a general boost in self-confidence or self-esteem. With these effects and high statistics in mind, it might not be too surprising that many teens using OxyContin are struggling to recover from their addiction. What can be done? What treatment options are available?
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First of all, it’s important to connect your teen with a mental health professional to understand what options are best for them. They will be able to assess your teen’s addiction and understand what underlying issues or mental health conditions are present.
From there, a professional will be able to refer your teen to appropriate addictions counselling and therapy, as well as make referrals for an inpatient treatment program if necessary. An inpatient program is valuable in recovery, as professionals are able to monitor your child’s detox, coping mechanisms and education in a supportive environment.
Sometimes, what your teen needs is to be in an atmosphere of healing and success and with the support of mental health and medical professionals to recover. It’s important to understand that family support is crucial but is often not the only thing needed for recovery. Therefore, if your teen struggles with an OxyContin addiction, be sure to get them help from a professional to begin their journey towards healing.
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