The Coleman Institute Blog

We have seen an increase in patients coming to The Coleman Institute (TCI) for rapid detox from Roxicodone (also known as Roxycodone). Roxicodone is a strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) used to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid pain medicine, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines do not treat pain well enough or a person cannot tolerate them. It is another pain medicine that can put a person at risk for overdose and death. Even if taken as prescribed a person is at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to death.

If someone is buying these pills on the street, they are commonly called Blues, Roxies, Roxys, or thirties--descriptors of the color and usual milligrams.

“No one made me come to treatment – That’s good, right?” – I hear this all the time. Patients who come to us for help say this frequently. They are convinced that because they are coming for help voluntarily, it will make them more likely to stay clean and sober for the long term. I usually say to them – somewhat jokingly, “Well, good for you … but that won’t help you at all … unless you also do the necessary work to stay in recovery.” I tell them that wanting to come to treatment is just like wanting to go to the gym. Wanting to go to the gym only does you any good if you actually do go to the gym and work out! Wanting is not enough. Only putting in the time and doing the work will count.

If you are daring to stop using drugs or alcohol, you are daring to believe there is something better out there for you.

It is a huge leap of faith to give up something that has so consistently given what you’ve asked of it: ease of mind, release of tension, the illusion of no responsibilities, justification to escape from the troubles the world has unjustly stowed upon you…

Of course, alcohol is consistent on the other end, as well: hangovers, neglected commitments, forgotten conversations, poor health, maiming motivation…

To be open to the possibility that something better awaits can be a terrifying proposition.

I received a rather desperate call from a patient who’d recently completed an Accelerated Opiate Detox with us at The Coleman Institute. Jean*is the mother of three young children. Prior to completing her detox, she had been taking opioids for several years; originally starting when she was prescribed Hydrocodone for tooth pain.

As we hear frequently from our clients, her use went from being somewhat sporadic to more frequent, until one day she realized her low energy, sweats, irritability and upset stomach had everything to do with the fact she was out of the drug.

I've spent some time recently listening to interviews with Dr. Rick Hanson, a neuro-psychiatrist. Based on his and others research, he teaches very specific strategies that have been shown to affect the human brain in positive ways.

Like many species, we are more biased toward paying attention to the negative rather than the positive. As Dr. Hanson puts it, our thoughts about negative experiences are like Velcro, our thoughts about positive experiences are like Teflon.