What Treatments Are Available for Tylenol 3 Drug Addiction?

Tylenol 3 drug addiction is a serious illness that affects millions of people all over the world.  It is considered a Schedule III controlled substance and is commonly prescribed by medical professionals as a pain reliever for moderate to severe cases.  The drug is effective due to the combination of codeine and acetaminophen which works as an analgesic to decrease pain continually over a 12 hour period in a normal dose. Tylenol 3 drug addiction typically begins at the hospital when a patient with severe pain or a terminal illness begins taking the drug under the supervision of a doctor.  The user may request the drug as needed for pain, but eventually a physical and psychological addiction can set in if there is not a plan in place to slowly and carefully wean the patient off of Tylenol 3.  In the event that an individual develops a addiction, there are a number of treatment options that will be discussed below.  They include support groups and alternative drugs as well as inpatient and outpatient clinics such as the Horizons Clinic.

Methadone – This is also a powerful drug that has shown promise at treatment facilities in weaning addicts off of other drugs like heroin, cocaine, Tylenol 3, and Oxycontin to name a few. The Horizons Clinic utilizes methadone as a treatment option and they have found much success with it.  It can also be addictive and must be administered by a medical professional in order to avoid developing a dependency. Methadone works by easing the symptoms of withdrawal from narcotics such as the ones listed above, but it does not give the addict the high that they get from their drug of choice.  Methadone is a pain relieving opioid that can be habit forming even if it is not abused, so the drug should only be given to patients under medical supervision.  Methadone has proven to be an effective drug for helping addicts.  It has also been known to slow respiratory functions and patients can become addicted to it as well, so dosage and treatment instructions must be adhered to closely.

Suboxone – Suboxone is the pharmaceutical name for Buprenorphine, which is another opioid that is used to effectively manage the withdrawal symptoms from some of the harder drugs on the market. Suboxone has been proven to reduce the effects of chronic pain in small dosages and it can be administered at treatment facilities for patients with an addiction to Tylenol 3 as well as many other prescription drug addictions.  The drug serves as an effective bridge between the detoxification and treatment stages of an addict’s recovery and works well in low doses to help the patient manage his/her withdrawal symptoms so they can begin a treatment program after sobering up from their drug of choice.  There is less chance of overdose or collateral addiction on Suboxone than even Methadone and it has been proven to have less sexual side effects as well.

Inpatient – There are many facilities where addicts can go to get help. Inpatient treatment is usually reserved for strong addictions that the patient cannot break on their own.  Many of these stem from some accident or disease that carries major pain issues with it and over time they developed a dependency for the pain reliever.  This is not uncommon.  Inpatient treatment focuses on cleaning up the user and helping them rid their bodies of the substance, while slowly beginning to help them understand the addiction.  This is a necessary step for many addicts and it will ultimately help them overcome their addiction to Tylenol 3 or other pharmaceuticals.

Outpatient – This option is usually reserved for addicts that have successfully completed an inpatient stay and are moving on with their understanding of the drugs that addict them. Outpatient therapy allows the addict to maintain many if not all of their daily life functions while seeking guidance as they learn about the triggers that prompt them to use narcotic substances.  Tylenol 3 drug addiction is one such addiction that can be mitigated with regular clinic visits for discussion and support.  Users at this juncture can go to therapy on a less-intense schedule such as once a week, or a few times a month depending on where they are with their treatment.

Support Groups – Support groups for Tylenol 3 drug addiction, along with other narcotics, are pretty common and usually have multiple NA (Narcotics Anonymous) locations in a standard-sized city. This is the phase of treatment when the addict has successfully completed treatment at an facility like the Horizons Clinic and has been released from regular one-on-one outpatient meetings with a counselor.  These groups typically rely on the attendees to provided relatable stories and scenarios that help former addicts avoid triggers and keep them focused on overcoming the addiction.