OxyContin Abuse
OxyContin® abuse has increased dramatically since its inception in 1995. OxyContin was developed to alleviate chronic pain and is known to be highly addictive. Similar in structure to that of heroin or morphine, OxyContin has become one of the most highly abused prescription drugs on the market today. OxyContin abuse is spreading so rapidly that many officials are calling it the new drug abuse epidemic.
The active ingredient in OxyContin is oxycodone, which is also used for several other analgesic painkillers such as percocet, Norco, and Tylox. While these contain 5 to 10 milligrams of oxycodone, OxyContin is a time-release formula containing 20 to 160 milligrams of oxycodone. OxyContin abusers crush the tablet and ingest it or snort it or inject it. Crushing the tablet removes the timed-release action of the medication and causes a quick, powerful high. Oxycontin abusers have compared this feeling to the euphoria they experience when taking heroin. In fact, in some areas, OxyContin abuse is more prevalant than heroin abuse.
The 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) revealed that 3,000,000 people over the age of 11 had tried OxyContin for a nonmedical purpose, and 615,000 people tried OxyContin for nonmedical use for the first time in 2004. But oxycodone is well in the public eye because it has widespread legal use, with 38,100,000 prescriptions in 2005, of which over 19% were for OxyContin.
OxyContin abuse is characterized by the repeated, compulsive use of a substance despite adverse social, psychological, and/or physical consequences. OxyContin abuse causes a person to have no other goal in life other than to use more OxyContin. This obsession to getting more of the drug results in the OxyContin abuser stealing from friends and family members, neglecting their job and straining all relationships. The result of OxyContin abuse behavior is the loss of friends and family, leading to upset and anger for all involved. OxyContin abuse also continues to destroy millions of lives not only by means of addiction, but overdose and death.
OxyContin abuse leads to dependance very quickly where the user will experience painful withdrawal symptoms when trying to trying to qiut using the drug. The OxyContin abuser will have severe drug cravings, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cold flashes, muscle pains, and overall flu-like symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can begin within 6 hours after the abusers last dose. At this point, the addict will desperately seek his next high or "fix" to avoid these uncomfortable and painful symptoms of withdrawal.
OxyContin Abuse Treatment
The good news is that OxyContin abuse is treatable. Oxycontin abuse can be treated with the proper OxyContin abuse treatment program. There are many different forms of treatment available for OxyContin abuse, but research has shown that long term treatment has an overwhelmingly better outcome than short term treatment.
If you or someone you know is having problems with OxyContin abuse, it is extremely important that you become educated about OxyContin abuse and do your research. We are here to help with that research and all information regarding OxyContin abuse and treatment. Explore the rest of our links for information and resources or just give us a call or fill out the form below. We will evaluate the specifics of your situation and go over available options for you. Please feel free to call us anytime, day or night. We are here to help.