As of 2017, an average of more than three North Carolinians are killed each day due to opioid overdoses. This tragic epidemic is affecting people of all ages and socioeconomic statuses and has finally gained the attention of lawmakers. As a result, the North Carolina opioid bill was passed in July 2017. It gives those struggling with addiction to opioids a chance to find lasting recovery.
What is the North Carolina Opioid Bill?
The Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOMP) Act requires that doctors seeing a patient for the first time to treat pain can only prescribe up to five-day supply of opioids such as Percocet. However, this limit does not apply to later visits. It also doesn’t apply to those who are experiencing pain from chronic illnesses. Physicians must electronically submit their prescriptions and report each one to prevent so-called “doctor-shopping.” Since the abuse of prescription painkillers is often the slippery slope that eventually leads to the use of dangerous street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl, the North Carolina opioid bill seeks to nip the devastation of addiction in the bud.
The Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Addiction
No one deliberately sets out to become dangerously dependent on opioids. For many people, the process starts when they have prescribed a painkiller such as Percocet or Oxycodone after being injured or due to the chronic pain of arthritis or a back condition. Although most people can use their prescription as directed and stop taking the drug after a short period, some become both physically and psychologically dependent and find that the dose that once was adequate no longer brings the desired effect. Cravings also accompany this tolerance for the drug that begins to take over a person’s life. For someone in this situation, constant cravings and thoughts on the next dose become obsessive. In the end, they become the most important focus. It is to try to prevent this downward spiral that the North Carolina opioid bill is trying to end.
Are you worrying about forming an opioid addiction? Honestly ask yourself if you are experiencing the following signs and symptoms:
- Anxiety, agitation or panic attacks
- Depression or low self-esteem
- You use opioids for longer or in greater quantities than you intended
- You are unable to decrease your dosage or stop using
- Spending all time on obtaining, using and recovering from the opioid
- You no longer participate in activities you once loved and your relationships have suffered
These are just some of the things you might experience if you have a serious problem with opioids. An effective opioid addiction treatment program in North Carolina can help you to address the full spectrum of the physical, psychological and behavioral changes that opioid abuse has brought to your life.
How Red Oak Recovery Can Help
Red Oak Recovery is a gender-separated addiction treatment facility located in Asheville, North Carolina. While many young adult rehab programs focus only on various types of counseling and behavioral therapies we understand that the traditional models don’t work for a lot of people. Therefore, our program combines the traditional rehab setting with a wilderness adventure component. That’s because we understand that meaningful recovery must encompass wellness on all levels: physical strength and confidence, teamwork skills, psychological well-being, a thorough understanding of the root causes and triggers of your addiction and strategies to combat relapse.
The North Carolina opioid bill will hopefully prevent those in pain who are visiting their doctors for the first time from becoming addicted to the opioids they prescribe. However, if you are already a young adult experiencing the downward spiral of opioid abuse, Red Oak Recovery is here for you. Let us help you take the first real steps toward lasting recovery. Call our caring and knowledgeable counselors today at 828.382.9699.
