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Narcotic related emergency room visits are on the rise all over the United States. New York City, for instance has seen a 40% jump in just a few short years. Prescription pain medicine is the second-most used illegal drug; marijuana remains number one. It is estimated by a survey from New York’s Department of Health that 263,000 people have used pain killers like oxycodone and hydrocodone. These are the numbers of people within the state who are using the drug for recreation, not to treat pain.

Seeing this shift towards narcotic pain medication as a way to get high is dangerous because the risk of overdose is high. These are highly–addictive medications that when used properly, treat pain and do not run a high risk of addiction. Many people feel they can take these medications with minimal risk to their bodies because they are often prescribed by doctors for pain purposes. However, doctors typically only prescribe pills like these for short periods of time. One reason is because it is to treat short-term pain, like that associated with surgery or injuries. Another reason is because people can become dependent after long-term use. These pills are great for masking pain until the problem subsides, but long-term pain needs expert help to find the root cause and another way to treat the issue. And finally, because these medications can damage your organs.

Pill addiction is a deadly game to play with your body’s organs. It is only a matter of time before a person will sustain damage to their liver, kidneys and other vital organs. Overdose is a reality. Once a person has consumed too much of a prescription narcotic, it becomes difficult for trained medical professionals to undo what has been done. Get help now for pill addiction to drugs like Vicodin, Percocet or OxyContin. Join Vista Taos Drug Rehab clinic in New Mexico to break the deadly cycle of addiction.

While OxyContin addiction is an unfavorable situation at any point in a person’s life, it is most threatening during pregnancy, and even during the postpartum period. While the effects of withdrawal can be traumatizing for the pregnant woman, the symptoms are even worse for a newborn infant.

When dealing with a serious addiction, it is never recommended to suddenly cut off use entirely, as withdrawal symptoms and craving for the substance can be incredibly strong. Methadone treatment is typically given to patients in order to combat the serious physical side effects of withdrawal. However, this treatment has been controversial in use with pregnant women, whose newborn babies also require the substance to avoid life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Infants that have been exposed to OxyContin addiction often suffer from excessive crying, stiff limbs, tremors and diarrhea, making the first days of life an excruciatingly painful experience. While treatment with small amounts of methadone is customary, it also requires that the infant be weaned from this substance as well, leading to many weeks spent in the hospital in addition to what is normally required for newborns.

Prenatal care is also an issue for mothers-to-be who suffer from OxyContin addiction. Many doctors are hesitant to treat pregnant women with this addiction, as the long-term effects of their abuse are still mostly unknown. The proper way to treat pregnant women with this affliction is also controversial, questioning the benefits and risks of treating the addiction and withdrawal or focusing more on the baby’s reaction to a sudden loss of the opiate. Opinions on this matter are extremely varied, even more so because of many pharmacists’ unwillingness to fill opiate prescriptions for pregnant women, regardless of the circumstance.

Unfortunately, room for research on this is limited, as many mothers with OxyContin addiction are also abusing other substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, other narcotics or street drugs. It is difficult to effectively research this topic enough to provide a solid method of treatment that is best for mother and baby. Contact Vista Taos Addiction Center, located 85 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico to discuss ways to treat your addiction prior to becoming pregnant.