At The Rose, we identified early on the devastating effect that prescription opioid drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin would have on men and women across the nation. We have created specialized treatment programs for women who are addicted to these and other opioid drugs.
Opioids are narcotic drugs that contain opiates, substances that were originally obtained from opium poppies. Opiate-based drugs such as opium, heroin and morphine are among the world’s oldest drugs and have been abused for centuries. More recently, so-called synthetic opiates have been developed are for the treatment of pain. These include oxycodone (sold under the brand names OxyContin and Percocet) and hydrocodone (sold under the names Vicodin, Lorcet and Lortab). A class of drugs that contain hydromorphones and morphine (sold under the names Roxanol, Dilaudid and Duramorph) are also subject to abuse.
At The Rose, we have developed a variety of treatment methodologies that allow us to customize treatment for women who are dependent on OxyContin, Vicodin, heroin and other opioid drugs. We know that opioid recovery entails a unique set of challenges that include intense withdrawal symptoms, overwhelming cravings and a high rate of relapse. Our gender-specific treatment addresses every step of the recovery process, from rapid detox to residential treatment and outpatient care. Following treatment, clients can find additional support from Orange County’s vibrant recovery community at hundreds of 12-step weekly meetings.
Prescription Painkiller Abuse and Addiction
Drug experts have called the current level of prescription drug abuse an “invisible epidemic.” Men and women are becoming addicted to opioids in record numbers due to the sensations of euphoria and well-being that are side effects of their pain relief properties. Many people who become addicted begin by using opioid drugs recreationally, while others start with a prescription for pain relief. Opioids can be a safe treatment for moderate to severe pain when taken in recommended doses, but opioid abuse quickly leads to psychological and chemical dependency.
People who abuse opiate drugs build a tolerance for the drug and require higher dosages to experience the same level of euphoria. Because OxyContin, Vicodin, heroin and other opioid drugs are central nervous system depressants, they carry a high risk of overdose. This risk is increased when opioids are mixed with other drugs or alcohol.
Transitioning from Narcotic Painkillers to Heroin
As a person who is chemically dependent on opioids becomes addicted, it becomes more difficult to quit without undergoing acute physical withdrawal that includes muscle and bone pain, sweating, nausea, vomiting and a range of other painful physical symptoms. Psychological symptoms of withdrawal include intense cravings, panic and anxiety. These symptoms can begin just a few hours after the last dose of the drug and last for up to ten days.
Unfortunately, the “high” from heroin is identical to the “high” from narcotic painkillers, so there is an overwhelming new group of heroin abusers who started out by experimenting with pills like OxyContin and Vicodin. To most people it seems that the transition from “legal” pills to a “scary” street drug like heroin (that is usually injected) is a huge leap. However, anyone who has experienced opiate withdrawals knows that they are so painful that the suffering individual will do anything to make the pain go away – even succumb to buying and injecting heroin.
Our recovery center provides assisted withdrawal using Suboxone and Subutex, two medications that have been shown to reduce the painful effects of opioid withdrawal.
Rapid Opioid Detoxification with Subutex and Suboxone
At The Rose, we provide a cutting-edge process for rapid opioid detoxification using Suboxone, the brand name for buprenorphine, an opioid receptor blocker that reduces the painful effects of the acute withdrawal phase of recovery. Following withdrawal, Subutex (another buprenorphine-based medication) may be used to help recovering addicts through a post-withdrawal phase that is often characterized by insomnia and depression.
Upon completion of detox, the women are to be guided through a recovery program that will help them overcome their psychological and physical dependence on opioid drugs.
Individualized Treatment Programs for Opiate Addiction
No two cases of addiction are exactly alike and no single treatment will work for every client. Women who are addicted to heroin, morphine derivatives and prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin need different forms of treatment compared to women who abuse alcohol or other types of drugs.
At our treatment center in Newport Beach, we recognize the need for individualized treatment programs for opioid addiction. We also recognize the importance of gender-specific treatment, which has been identified by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as an important component of successful long-term recovery.The Rose is a member of the Sober Living by the Sea network of treatment facilities. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction in Newport Beach, Sober Living by the Sea created The Rose to provide a private, comfortable and supportive environment where women can build a solid foundation for long-term recovery. In the resort-like setting of our beachside residential facility, we provide a wide range of treatment modalities including traditional psychological principles, 12-step work, experiential/alternative therapies and therapeutic activities.
If you or a woman in your life is suffering from a psychological or physical addiction to opioid drugs, contact us for treatment information or to schedule an admission. We are prepared to help with intervention, provide buprenorphine-assisted rapid detox as well as residential treatment. Isn’t it time to let the healing begin?