Treatment for Percocet Addiction

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), often with the use of buprenorphine, is considered the gold standard in treatment for Percocet addiction, a type of opioid use disorder (OUD). 

This treatment approach involves a combination of medication to manage withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings as well as behavioral therapy to build skills that enable relapse prevention. 

What Treatment Options Are Available for Percocet Addiction?

The primary treatment options for Percocet addiction are MAT, therapy, and aftercare programming. Treatment generally takes the form of inpatient or outpatient care.

Inpatient treatment works best for those with long-standing addictions to Percocet or other opioids, those with co-occurring disorders, and people who have tried rehab in the past but been unsuccessful. In this setting, you’ll be able to completely focus on the work you are doing in therapy, ensuring you have the best foundation for ongoing recovery when you exit inpatient treatment.

Outpatient treatment offers many of the same treatments as inpatient treatment, but you’ll continue to live at home or in a sober living facility while you go through rehab. Most people participate in outpatient treatment since it is the less expensive option, and you are able to continue participating in other aspects of your life while in treatment.  

Many people transition between different levels of care, depending on their progress in recovery. For example, you may begin in inpatient treatment and then transition into outpatient care once you have a bit of a foothold in recovery.

Which Types of MAT Are Used for Percocet Addiction?

The standard treatment for Percocet addiction is MAT since it has repeatedly been shown to reduce relapse rates. These medications are FDA approved to treat opioid use disorder:

• Methadone: This medication has long been used to treat OUD. It is a long-acting opioid that is used to prevent opioid misuse, such as abuse of heroin or prescription painkillers like Percocet. Since methadone itself has a high potential for abuse, it is usually dispensed daily at a methadone clinic or as part of an addiction treatment program.
• Buprenorphine: This medication is commonly prescribed to treat Percocet addiction, often in the form of Suboxone, which is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Naloxone serves as an abuse deterrent. If Suboxone is misused, such as if a user attempts to inject it to get high, the naloxone component will push all opioids off opioid receptors, sending the user into immediate withdrawal. 
• Naltrexone: This is a synthetic drug that blocks opioid receptors within the central nervous system, thwarting any euphoric effect that might occur if Percocet or other opioids are abused. Naltrexone doesn’t prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings like methadone and buprenorphine do. If you relapse while taking naltrexone, you simply won’t get high.

In addition to these medications for opioid use disorder, other medications may be prescribed to address specific withdrawal symptoms, co-occurring disorders, or other issues. Examples include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or medications to address sleep issues.

Types of Therapies for Percocet Addiction

Medication is just part of the treatment program for Percocet addiction. In MAT programs, you’ll also participate in therapy, and this is where the bulk of your recovery work will take place. 

Here are some of the therapies that are commonly used in treatment for opioid use disorder:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This form of therapy is designed to help you identify and address maladaptive thought and coping patterns and replace them with more productive ones. In sessions, you’ll also learn to manage relapse triggers, so you are better able to maintain recovery after exiting formal treatment. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most highly regarded and universally effective forms of treating addiction. It can also help you build skills to cope with stress more effectively. 

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

This form of therapy focuses on identifying and fostering a desire to change. With improved motivation, you’ll be less likely to engage in problematic behaviors like Percocet abuse and more likely to participate in productive behaviors that benefit your overall well-being.

Contingency Management

With contingency management (CM) programs, you’ll receive rewards for certain benchmarks in your recovery process. These rewards can take various forms, but the goal is to motivate you to reach these milestones and then acknowledge the progress you’ve made.

12-Step Programming

While this approach is based on the original 12-step model developed by Alcoholics Anonymous, it has evolved to fit many different types of substance abuse or behavioral issues. This model is founded on the principles of peer support and a deeper spiritual journey. 

Some people don’t like the somewhat religious underpinnings of the 12-step model, and there are various secular options available as well that might suit them better. For example, LifeRing Secular Recovery and SMART Recovery offer a secular approach to recovery-center peer support groups.

The Importance of Lifestyle Changes

You’ll do a lot of work in Percocet addiction treatment to build the foundation of a different life in recovery. Ultimately, you’ll be implementing lifestyle changes that support your overall health and well-being. Here are some strategies to take with you when you complete a formal treatment program:

• Get active. You’ve likely heard it before, but exercise and activity are effective in promoting stable happiness and health. Use your recovery journey as an opportunity to be more active. You may also enjoy the social benefits of joining walking or hiking groups, exercise classes, or sports teams.
  
• Continue with aftercare. Finishing a structured inpatient or outpatient treatment program for Percocet addiction doesn’t signal the end of your recovery work. Most people continue to participate in regular therapy sessions on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This ensures that you continue to build skills to cope with life’s stressors and resist relapse, and you’ll have a safe space to process any issues that come up in your ongoing recovery.
  
  If you are taking medications, you’ll need to continue meeting with your doctor regularly to ensure the doses are still working for you as they should.
  
• Set goals. Use this opportunity to set a goal, such as going back to school, earning a new job, finding a new career path, learning a new language, or traveling. These are likely things that were just not attainable while you were in active addiction. You’ll gain confidence and feel great along the way.