OxyContin Integrated Treatment
OxyContin is a narcotic pain reliever used in the management of moderate to severe pain. It contains oxycodone and is time-release formulated for consistent pain relief. While an effective medication, OxyContin is also highly addictive and should not be used by anyone with a mental illness or history of addiction. There is a high rate of OxyContin abuse.
Individuals with mental illnesses such as manic disorders, depression, schizophrenia, or personality disorders may take the drug as a means of self-medicating and masking the symptoms of these illnesses. OxyContin is not designed to treat any of these mental illnesses, however, and misuse can quickly lead to addiction. A single OxyContin pill can cost as much as $30 when purchased illegally. This habit can quickly outgrow an individual’s budget, and they may resort to theft or start using heroin, a drug with similar effects but significantly smaller price.
Dual Diagnosis and the Relationship between Mental Illness and Substance Abuse
Almost fifty percent of people with a mental illness also suffer from a substance abuse problem. Those with schizophrenia are four times as likely to develop a substance abuse disorder as the general population. Those with both mental illness and substance abuse problems are also more likely to do the following:
- Act violently
- Have difficulty responding to treatment
- Fail to comply with treatment programs
- Experience relapse
- Suffer from physical illness
- Be homeless
- Spend time in jail
Mental illnesses and substance abuse problems exacerbate each other and can make the effects of both worse. This does not mean that individuals cannot recover from a dual diagnosis but that treatment needs to be addressed differently from those with just one problem.
Integrated Treatment for a Dual Diagnosis
Until recently, co-occurring addictions and mental disorders were treated as two separate items. At best, the patient would receive parallel treatment, in which both issues were addressed at the same time but by two entirely different resources with no communication. More likely, however, was the possibility that treatment for one issue would be followed by treatment for the other, bouncing patients back and forth between mental health facilities and drug treatment centers.
Often, one aspect of the dual diagnosis would be ignored entirely and only half of the problem would be addressed. Treating one issue does not mean the other will improve, and a lack of communication means various doctors can pull patients in conflicting directions.
Today, integrated treatment is recognized as an effective method for dealing with a dual diagnosis of addiction and mental illness. Integrated treatment addresses both issues at the same time and in the same place, and treatment is administered by medical professionals who communicate with one another. In addition to traditional medication and counseling, integrated treatment often involves the following:
- Emphasis on hope and optimism
- Job training
- Housing assistance
- Money management
Patients are given the tools to combat addiction and manage their mental illness in a healthy and productive manner. The right integrated treatment program can start patients on a path to full recovery.
Need Help Finding Integrated Treatment for OxyContin Abuse?
If you or a loved on has an OxyContin abuse problem, please call our toll-free number. We are here to help and can provide information about integrated treatment for OxyContin abuse and mental illness. We are available to help 24 hours a day. Don’t suffer another day because of addiction; call us today and get started on your path to recovery.
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