Leading Prescription Painkiller Detox Center in Virginia

The importance of prescription painkiller detox

It is virtually impossible to overstate the beneficial impact that prescription painkillers have had on the lives of countless adolescents and adults throughout Virginia, the United States, and around the world. When used as directed by a qualified healthcare provider, prescription painkillers alleviate suffering and enable individuals to live productive and satisfying lives.

Unfortunately, the use of prescription painkillers is not a risk-free experience. These medications, the majority of which contain opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl, can cause a myriad of negative effects if used in a manner that is contrary to the direction of the prescribing physician. The powerful and pleasurable effects of prescription painkillers, combined with the relative ease with which these substances can be acquired, makes them prime targets for individuals who are attempting to self-medicate or who are searching for a recreational high.

Regardless of the reason or reasons that a person begins to abuse a prescription painkiller, he or she risks significant immediate and long-term damage, including the development of an addiction. Since so many prescription painkillers contain opioids, it can be extremely difficult, if not virtually impossible, for an individual to end his or her abuse of these medications with professional help from a reputable addiction treatment center. Among the many obstacles that stand between an individual and freedom from opioid addiction is a series of painful symptoms that are known collectively as withdrawal.

Understanding prescription painkiller withdrawal

When a person becomes addicted to or dependent upon a prescription painkiller, his or her body will adapt to the presence of this substance. When the individual either attempts to stop taking the substance or is incapable of acquiring the drug, his or her body will react in a negative manner.

Depending upon the duration and severity of a person’s addiction to prescription painkillers, the onset of withdrawal symptoms can occur within a few hours of last use, and can last for up to a week. During withdrawal, the individual may experience a variety of distressing physical and psychological symptoms, such as the following:

• Powerful cravings for the prescription painkiller
• Flu-like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Excessive sweating, runny nose, and watery eyes
• Intense abdominal cramping
• Muscle pain
• Agitation, anxiety, and paranoia

The intense pain of withdrawal, coupled with the knowledge that all suffering can be alleviated merely by once again taking the prescription painkiller upon which one had become dependent, can quickly overwhelm even the most fervent desire to end this self-defeating behavior. And when a person fails to get through withdrawal, the sense of shame and frustration can push him or her into an ever-deepening downward spiral of substance abuse and addiction. Thankfully, there is a better way.

Stopping the active abuse of prescription painkillers is a necessary prerequisite to engaging in the therapeutic interventions that will support long-term recovery. However, as noted in the previous section, ending one’s patter of prescription painkiller abuse without professional help can be an extremely difficult endeavor.

At Life Center of Galax, the men and women of Virginia can avoid much of the pain of withdrawal, and can significantly increase the likelihood that they will successfully rid their bodies of prescription painkillers, by participating in our detoxification program.

In our detox program, individuals work with compassionate professionals who are experienced in all facets of the withdrawal experience and who are prepared to provide the medical and therapeutic support that will alleviate pain, ensure safety, and prepare the individual for the successful pursuit of life-long recovery. The detox program at Life Center of Galax occurs in a closely supervised environment, where individuals receive round-the-clock care to maximize safety and minimize discomfort. The close supervision and controlled environment of detox also prevent individuals from accessing the prescription painkillers that they had previously been abusing, which eliminates risk of relapse, overdose, and other negative outcomes.

To address the unique challenges that are associated with prescription painkiller withdrawal, our detox professionals may prescribe certain medications that will ease the intense cravings and other distressing symptoms but that will not put the individual at risk for becoming dependent or relapsing.

Freed from the physiological pain of withdrawal, individuals who complete our detox program can begin to focus on their renewed health, and prepare themselves to fully engage in the individual, group, and other therapies that will form the foundation for their ongoing recovery.

Benefits of detoxing from prescription painkillers at Life Center of Galax in Virginia

Being able to safely and successfully rid one’s body of prescription painkillers is a valuable, immediate advantage to enrolling in detox at our addiction treatment center. However, the many benefits of detox do not end when a person is discharged from the program.

First, having a successful prescription painkillers treatment experience at the detox level can be a watershed moment, changing an individual’s mindset from the defeatist attitude of addiction to the hopefulness and positivity of recovery. Detox is just one step along the path of recovery, but it is an essential step. The memory of this early success can be a tremendous benefit for months and years to come as the individual faces other challenges that can threaten to derail his or her continued recovery.

This inner confidence can be complemented by the support and encouragement of the recovery community. Throughout Virginia and across the nation, men and women who are walking the path of lifelong recovery can be powerful sources of ongoing assistance. For many people, detox is the first connection that they have with this vibrant and dynamic community. The day a person accepts help, he or she opens him or herself up to the possibility and potential of the global recovery community.

Also, when a person completes detox for prescription painkiller addiction at our addiction treatment center, he or she can transfer directly into residential or outpatient treatment without having to leave our campus. This seamless transition ensures continuity of care, protects the individual from the stresses, pressures, and triggers that can derail early recovery, and enables him or her to receive the focused care that will empower him or her to successfully pursue a drug-free future.

To learn more about prescription painkiller our detox program, residential, and/or outpatient options, or any other aspects of our treatment center, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. We look forward to answering all of your questions and helping you decide if Life Center of Galax is the ideal place for you or a loved one.