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Ever since Oxycontin changed its formula, addicts in rural America have sought new ways to get high. And now they may have zeroed in on a new drug of choice: Opana.

Opana is a potent prescription pain reliever made from oxymorphone, an opioid-based drug. Abuse of this prescription medication has been rising, and it has overtaken the previously favored drugs of meth, Oxycontin, heroin and cocaine to become the drug of choice in rural America.

The ease with which those who suffer from pain killer addiction can obtain the drug may be the leading reason for the rise in abuse. Opana is an expensive drug, and many people prescribed the drug for legitimate pain have begun to sell their prescription drugs to addicts – for as much as $90 per pill on the streets. Additionally, “dirty” doctors may prescribe Opana for simple pain rather than for the intended usage for cancer, chronic back pain and osteoarthritis, which makes it much easier to obtain.

Opana’s formula may also be partially to blame for the rise in pain pill addiction. It is easy to crush and reformulate into a drug that can be snorted or injected. While Opana’s manufacturers have realized the mistake in formulation and plan to make changes similar to Oxycontin’s reformulation – which made it impossible to reconstitute the pill – the pill is still available in a crushable form as of right now and remains a drug of choice. 

Unfortunately, this leaves rural counties dealing with the effects of citizen pain pill addiction. Poverty, increased crime rates, and decreased property values top the ill effects of pain pill addiction, but the increased death rate in those under the age of 25 years old due to accidental overdose may be the most disheartening effect.   

Pain pill addiction can be conquered, though. If you or a loved one need assistance with pain killer addiction, call a treatment center that can carefully see you through prescription drug detox. Vista Taos Renewal Center of New Mexico can do just that and more.

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.

New studies show that concurrent use of painkillers, including NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Tylenol, Advil, and naproxen with anti-depressant medications like Prozac actually decreases the effectiveness of the anti-depressant medication. This is bad news for psychiatric patients that depend on anti-depressant medications to lead a normal day-to-day life, and for other patients who suffer from pill addiction due to chronic, daily pain. While it may be safe for a patient taking an anti-depressant to take the occasional NSAID to relieve mild headaches or muscle pain, studies have not yet determined what dosage of painkillers will begin to have an effect on the way the body and mind interpret anti-depressant medications.

For some people, anti-depressants are not very effective – and this new research identifies one of the reasons that treatment may be more effective for some than others. By eliminating painkillers, a patient may be able to determine if that is a contributing factor to the reason their anti-depressants seem to have a lackluster effect. This can also help to stave off pill addiction, which can be developed after extended use of even over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol. The body becomes used to a certain amount of pain relief, and will eventually require a higher amount of the medication in more frequent intervals.

There are a multitude of other options for those who suffer from chronic pain to explore as an alternative to painkillers, and the possibility of developing a pill addiction. Consistent, holistic therapies have often proven to be more effective in the long-term sense, rather than relying on medication to treat pain symptoms. Options such as massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, meditation, and even hypnotherapy have provided thousands of sufferers with natural relief, without feeding their bodies with a variety of chemicals that are found in painkillers.

For more information on the different types of therapy available to naturally heal your body from pill addiction, contact the caring staff at Vista Taos Addiction Center in Taos, New Mexico.

When pain goes on for months or is considered chronic, doctors often turn to opioids to help treat the pain. While there may not be an intention to misuse the drug, it often happens. It doesn’t take much to form a pain pill addiction from a small prescription given for good reason. In fact, it’s how many substance abuse issues like Vicodin addiction or Percocet addiction begin.

Sometimes painkillers are the best way to help a person cope, despite their dangerous side effects and high addiction rate. In 2007, about 12,000 died because of pill abuse. Those numbers are higher than deaths from cocaine and heroin, combined. Doctors want to treat patients properly, but need to protect themselves when patients start to self-medicate and mix drugs at dangerous levels. Some doctors have created something called a “Pain Contract.” It focuses on how the drugs can be taken safely with maximum health benefits. Depending on the heath care provider, the patient may have to give blood or urine samples to check intake levels and test for other drugs. It’s all in the name of trying to avoid pill abuse; it also means not sharing or selling them to others.

Some are not happy with this pill addiction clause. They feel it violates a patient’s right to privacy. However, doctors feel it is spreading awareness about the ease of sliding into pill addiction. How do people legally obtain enough pills to fuel their substance abuse issue? Often, they don’t. They turn to alternative sources to get their pills. Pharmaceuticals in Mexico are over the counter, and it’s a money maker for the drug runners to bring Oxycodone, morphine and other narcotic pills into the states to turn a huge profit. Big cities closer to the border like Austin and San Antonio, Texas have very easy access to pain pills, but other dangerous drugs as well.

Vista Taos Drug Addiction Center in New Mexico is ready to help those who need assistance with pain pill addiction. There are ways to enter sobriety with peace and comfort, not by a harsh detox and a sterile, cold environment. If you or a loved one needs help with pill abuse, please contact a counselor at Vista Taos today.