Can You Quit Oxycontin Cold Turkey?
Quitting cold turkey might seem to be the answer to an OxyContin addiction you can’t seem to shake, but this sudden deprivation of a chemical your body has come to depend on can be dangerous. Residential treatment centers offer medically supervised detox that put your well-being first and a safe, judgment-free environment where you can address the roots of your addiction and build connections with others facing similar struggles. You will also learn strategies to prevent relapse, in order to keep you on the path to wellness even after you complete treatment. Seeking help in a positive environment for recovery will help you begin your journey to recovery off on the right foot—and set you up for a brighter future.
In the world of addiction, some people give weight to the misconception that willpower is the most important factor in success. With a strong focus, many are driven to attempt to quit OxyContin cold turkey and leave their addiction behind on their own. More often than not, these same people find out the hard way that they aren’t fully equipped to cope with the long and difficult processes of withdrawal and recovery and wind up right back where they started, trapped in their addiction.
While willpower can definitely be a huge factor in successful addiction recovery, willpower cannot protect you or your body from the physical effects of OxyContin withdrawal. Consider benzodiazepines, for example—cold turkey withdrawal is extremely dangerous in such cases and can be fatal. All the determination in the world can’t change this.
Although opioid withdrawals aren’t as life-threatening as those stemming from benzodiazepines, they can still be deadly, especially when you try and speed up the detox process. And, especially when attempting to quit on your own without any medical or emotional support, you’re putting your health and well-being at risk and decreasing your chances of overcoming your addiction. To give yourself your best chance at recovery, it’s important to seek out professional help with overcoming your addiction at a residential OxyContin addiction treatment center that can offer you the comprehensive care you need to address both the physical and mental aspects of your dependence.
1. Medically-Supervised Detox Puts Your Well-being First
One of the reasons cold turkey detox often sends OxyContin users back to using is the pain and discomfort associated with the process of withdrawal. Even those with high tolerance thresholds for pain may find withdrawal difficult to endure when facing it alone. Some of the most common symptoms of OxyContin withdrawal include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Mood changes
- Muscle aches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
- High blood pressure
Medically supervised detox prioritizes your health and comfort and can ease such symptoms. In a safe, secure environment, you’ll be able to taper your OxyContin dosage down so that your body can gradually acclimatize to the absence of opioids. Over time, your withdrawal symptoms will subside, and you will have an easier time focusing on the other important elements of your addiction recovery journey, such as…
2. You Can Address the Roots of Your Addiction
Detoxing from a drug isn’t the same thing as overcoming your addiction. While the safe, gradual removal of OxyContin from your system is necessary, it must be combined with various therapeutic modalities in order to confront and move on from the causes of your addiction. Without this step, you’re skipping the crucial process of learning about the foundation that your addiction is built upon. If you lack this understanding, it’s that much easier to fall back into substance abuse, even after a long period of sobriety.
Consider chronic pain, which is one of the main reasons that many people turn to opioids. If you suffer from this condition, you may find it difficult to function in the face of ongoing pain. Because of this, you may have turned to OxyContin for relief. But there are plenty of other, healthier ways to cope with your pain such as mindfulness practices like yoga, which can restructure your brain and thinking patterns to instill more positive coping mechanisms.
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866-922-13503. You Can Build Vital Connections and Supports
Peer support is a crucial part of addiction recovery. From professional psychiatrists that have helped hundreds of clients overcome OxyContin addiction to people just like you who are struggling with addiction, connecting with others that can understand and empathize with your situation (and vice versa) is crucial. Many people decide to go cold turkey alone without realizing that the severity of their withdrawal symptoms isn’t the only hurdle they’ll have to worry about—trying to detox alone is incredibly isolating, and for some, the resulting loneliness can be the most painful symptom of all.
At a residential OxyContin addiction treatment center, you will never feel alone in your struggle. You’ll always have medical professionals on hand to help address both physical and emotional challenges, as well as a large peer support network to connect to whenever you’re feeling low or just in need of someone to talk to. And just as important, you’ll be able to remain connected to these supports even after your treatment is over. Recovery is a long road, one that can sometimes lead to relapse. But with proper support, you will realize that these moments can be used as learning experiences. Instead of being the end of the road, they’re just detours—stopping places along the way, not your ultimate destination.
4. You’ll Learn More Effective Methods for Preventing Relapse
While relapse can be an opportunity to learn and grow, it’s still preferable to avoid it when possible. Just as you wouldn’t want to stop and take every single detour on a road trip, it’s important to be able to learn how to navigate your recovery in such a way that relapse plays only a minimal role. This is especially important for opioids, given their highly addictive nature. Relapse prevention strategies are one of the cornerstones of any OxyContin treatment program, and in a residential setting, you’ll have the time, space, and support to not only learn about but practice coping methods that will serve you well throughout your journey. These include:
- Identifying and coping with triggers
- Managing emotions and cravings
- Developing problem-solving skills
- Building and maintaining peer support
With these strategies in hand, you will be better prepared to face the world free of opioids after leaving treatment.
A Positive Environment for Recovery
While quitting OxyContin cold turkey is technically possible, success is unlikely and the process itself is that much harder, both on your body and your psychological well-being. By connecting with medical professionals and a peer support network you can rely on even beyond the initial stages of withdrawal, you can minimize ill effects and maximize your chances of freeing yourself from the cycle of addiction permanently.
A comprehensive treatment program in a residential setting ensures your safety and increases your comfort during the withdrawal process while equipping you to cope effectively with future challenges to ensure your continued wellness long after you leave the treatment facility and return to your daily life. Especially given OxyContin’s highly addictive nature and painful, sometimes dangerous withdrawals, it’s important to start your journey to recovery in a positive, productive environment that can provide you with all the tools you’ll need for healing. With these tools, you can set yourself up for a smoother road to recovery and a fuller, healthier life.
Alta Mira offers comprehensive treatment for drug and alcohol addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders and process addictions. Contact us to learn more about our renowned Bay Area programs and how we can help you or your loved one start the journey toward recovery.
