OxyContin Addiction

OxyContin Addiction is one of the more recent addictions to hit the nation. It is quickly spreading as one of the more popular street drugs. OxyContin is in the drug class of narcotic pain killers and is similar to morphine. It is usually used to treat moderate to severe pain and is prescribed to most cancer patients now as an alternative to morphine. It is usually taken in tablet form every 12 hours to control pain. OxyContin is a time release medication allowing it to slowly control the pain over a long period of time rather than having to take a pain medication every 3-6 hours as a person normally would. With OxyContin Addiction, a user will remove the sustained-release coating on the tablet to get a rapid-release which causes a euphoric “rush” similar to that of heroin. They may also chew the tablets, crush them up and snort them, or crush them, dissolve them in water, and inject the drug like heroin.
OxyContin Addiction will cause a user to develop a tolerance which may lead to overdose. As tolerance for the drug builds, the higher the dose it takes to reach that initial euphoric high that is felt with prior doses. Once a user begins to increase the dose taken, a physical and psychological dependence begins to form. In situations of overdose, a user may show such signs and symptoms as Pinpoint pupils, Respiratory depression (normal respirations are around 12-20 times per minute), Confusion, Drowsiness, Mood changes, Clouding of mental function, Reduced vision, Apathy (or feelings that they just don’t care about anything), Decreased physical activity, Constipation, Nausea, and Vomiting. In situations of overdose, seek emergency medical help immediately.

With OxyContin Addiction it is nearly impossible not to have physical and psychological dependence develop as the tolerance for the drug increases. With physical dependence, the body adapts to the drug’s presence and causes the user to have to increase the dose to gain the same euphoric high as before. When the patient or user stops taking the drug, it causes withdrawal symptoms to occur. With OxyContin, the withdrawal symptoms are much like they are with heroin abuse but a lot worse and last longer. Some of the signs and symptoms you may see associated with withdrawal from OxyContin include Restlessness, Lacrimation, Anxiety, Rhinorrhea, Yawning, Perspiration, Chills, Myalgia, and Midriasis. Other symptoms that you may see also include Irritability, Vague pain, Weakness, Abdominal cramps, Insomnia, Nausea, Anorexia, Vomiting, Diarrhea, or Increased blood pressure, respiratory rate, or heart rate. The best and definitely the safest way to deal with this is to get professional help from a heroin detox center.

The psychological effects of OxyContin Addiction are a direct result of the drugs imprinting in the memory of a pleasant, euphoric feeling that is associated with the drug. Because of the false imprint, the subconscious memory causes the person to have cravings for the drug since the brain associates the drug to the quickest way to feel good. It then causes the person to change their entire lifestyle to revolve around OxyContin and trying to get it. They start changing who they associate with, they may “doctor shop” in order to try and get multiple prescriptions, and/or they may even steal or forge prescriptions to get access to the drug.

OxyContin Addiction is a serious and life threatening disease and should always be treated as such. Once a person admits that they have an addiction, they should seek treatment from a certified addiction counselor or in a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. This is not a road to travel down alone. We are here to help you and your loved ones down the road to recovery and to help get your lives back on track.

Comments are closed.