An Overlooked Problem With Prescription Opiate Pain Killers

With Covid-19 forcing major changes on people’s lives, the news is filled with information on opiate abuse and the dangers of this type of addiction. If the pandemic has you battling addiction, you already understand the power these drugs hold over your life. The news talks about many of the dangerous side effects of these drugs, but they often overlook one important fact. Most prescription painkillers are combination drugs.

Combination drugs are those that have more than one basic ingredient that is used to achieve its goal. In the case of prescription painkillers, many of these have an opiate-based ingredient that is mixed with acetaminophen (Tylenol). Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycodone are just a few of the prescription painkillers that contain a high dose of acetaminophen in them.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have both released statements that encourage people to limit their use of acetaminophen because high doses of this medication can lead to liver damage or death.

Since 2011 the FDA has been actively encouraging doctors not to prescribe any combination medication that contains more than 325 milligrams per dose of acetaminophen in them so that the maximum amount of this medication is not exceeded each day. The FDA has also encouraged doctors to warn patients taking these combination medications not to take any other over-the-counter medications that contain acetaminophen in them while taking these powerful painkillers.

The National Institute of Health has stated that anyone taking acetaminophen for more than seven days is at risk for liver damage. The risk increases significantly, the longer the drug is consumed and with larger doses. If you needed another reason to break your addiction to prescription painkillers, protecting yourself from liver damage is a good reason.

Addiction Recovery Centers Help Save Lives

The power that prescription painkillers have over someone when they become addicted cannot accurately be described. It is an addiction that is so consuming that people ill change everything about their lives just to make sure that they can get more pills. The effects of this addiction harm you physically, emotionally, and mentally.

When you add to these facts that other ingredients in these pain killers can cause liver damage or death, makes breaking the addiction even more important.Whispering Oaks Lodge offers a unique drug rehabilitation program. Our drug rehab center is located on a beautiful piece of property that is designed to bring tranquility into your life as you change from addiction to recovery.

A substance abuse counselor is assigned to each of our clients to help them transition into recovery. Your counselor will be with you through the entire program.Starting from the moment you begin the physical detox to the minute you are ready to leave, you will have the emotional, mental, and physical support you need to overcome your addiction to pain medication and start your new life in recovery.

Our program is also unique because we take your recovery one step further than other programs. As you progress in your recovery, we take field trips to help you begin to integrate yourself back into everyday living without the addiction. We visit restaurants and other social settings so that you can feel comfortable in these settings once again.Drug rehab needs to be more than just physically overcoming your dependence on drugs or alcohol. Rehab needs to be about adjusting to a new life without dependency. It is about rediscovering who you are so that you can move forward without the addiction.

We understand that there are many challenges to overcoming addiction. There may be many underlying issues that have led you to become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Our substance abuse counselors will work with you to address all issues, including things from your past and physical health issues so that when you leave our program, you feel mentally and physically healthy.

Our program is designed as a residential program as well as an on-going treatment program. We know that each person has different needs that must be met to help them enter recovery. We also offer continued care for when you leave the program. Continued support is always beneficial to stay in recovery.

You have so many reasons to enter into recovery. If you are ready to retake control of your life and discover a new tomorrow – we are here to help.