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Oxycontin Addiction: Oxycontin is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high
pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, neuralgia,
arthritis, lower back pain and pain associated with cancer. It contains oxycodone,
an opium derivative and is produced in a time released tablet. Oxycontin commonly
referred to as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton and kicker, was introduced in 1996 and has
had a rapid escalation of abuse. The tablets can be chewed, crushed and snorted
like cocaine, crushed and dissolved in water and then injected like heroin. The
most serious side effect is respiratory depression, particularly dangerous for
the elderly. Oxycontin
addiction and demand has resulted in pharmacy robberies and forged
prescriptions. The estimated number of people aged 12 or older with an oxycontin
addiction has increased from 1.9 million in 2002, to 3.1 million in 2004.
The largest increase occurred among young adults aged 18 to 25.Residential Treatment is a level of care that entails that the client live (resides) within a treatment facility for a specified duration of care; most often 28 days. Residential Treatment Programs and Centers usually include group and individual therapy sessions and span the confinement continuum from open campus to lock down facilities. Heroin Rapid Detox As an Opioid heroin use escalates as the body’s tolerance for the drug increases. The increased tolerance is the cause of many overdose deaths given that the heroin user may be injecting 3 to 5 times the lethal dose in order to maintain their high. Rapid detoxification from high tolerance heroin use is extremely dangerous and can be fatal. Relapse for a heroin user after some period of absence can also be fatal as their tolerance level is no longer present and the same amount used during their last episode prior to a period abstinence will often kill the user. Inpatient Treatment is most often residential in that they require that the client live within the facility during treatment. Inpatient treatment centers and programs are a higher level of care than outpatient programs and provide more intensive services and treatment than lower levels of the care continuum.
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| substance
abuse programs | consumer issues | law
and ethics |
Substance Abuse Programs

-
Addiction Treatment Center
Substance abuse information and treatment resources
-
Addiction Resource Guide
Comprehensive listing of addiction treatment facilities
- Clinical
Trials
Information for health consumers on medical treatment research at the
National Institutes of Health and participation in clinical trials
- Daytop
Village
Services available at the oldest and largest drug-free self-help program
in the United States
- Drug
and Alcohol Recovery Network Database of over 12,000 drug and
alcohol treatment facilities
- Drughelp
Referral network provides information on public and private treatment
programs, family support groups, and crisis centers in the United States
- Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery
The IIAR provides comprehensive hospital-based addiction
services for chemical, gambling, Internet, food, sex, and compulsive
spending addictions as well as chronic pain with addiction. Inpatient and
outpatient counseling and treatment services are available for both adults
and adolescents, as well as extended care services for those 18 years or
older.
- Interventions
Comprehensive resources on performing an addiction intervention and also provides free access and helpline to speak with an Interventionist.
- Odyssey
House
Drug-free residential treatment community
- Phoenix
House
Nonprofit substance abuse services organization offering nationwide
residential treatment communities for adults and adolescents
- SAMHSA
Treatment Facility Locator
Searchable government database of substance abuse treatment facilities
in the U.S.
Consumer Issues
-
20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors
Guidelines
from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
- Choosing
the Right Mental Health Therapist Consumer tips pamphlet suggests
referral issues, questions to ask, and resources
- HealthGrades
Consumer-oriented site rates hospitals, physicians, health plans, nursing
homes, home health programs, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and other
health providers
- Mental
Health Patient's Bill of Rights
Guide
suggests what to look for in mental health and substance abuse services
provided by managed care and other insurance plans
- Protecting
Yourself Against Health Fraud
U.S. Food and Drug Administration links to information about health
quackery, telemarketing scams, and other fraudulent practices
- Quackwatch
Exposes scams in the world of health care
- Talk
to Someone Who Can Help
American Psychological Association suggestions for finding help for
health (mind/body), work, and family/relationship issues; also includes
information on "dotcomsense," using the Internet safely

Law and Ethics

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