OxyContin
Addiction
What is OxyContin?
OxyContin is a brand name of the generic drug oxycodone. It’s an opiate made by modifying an organic chemical that is found in opium, which comes from the poppy plant. Small doses of oxycodone are an ingredient in prescription pain medication such as Percocet, Percodan, and Tylox. OxyContin is similar to morphine and is designed to last for up to 12 hours.
OxyContin is the time-release version of oxycodone, which is considered a narcotic analgesic. It can provide pain relief from chronic pain conditions like cancer, injuries, arthritis, and more. It is often abused and it’s highly addictive. Some doctors avoid writing a prescription for OxyContin because they don’t want patients to experience addiction or abuse of the drug. OxyContin comes in dosages between 10 mg and 80 mg. The 160 mg tablets are no longer produced because of the high drug abuse factor.
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What does OxyContin look like?
OxyContin comes in the form of small round pills, capsules, or an injectable. The colors of OxyContin pills vary according to dosage. They come in yellow, brown and gray pills.
How is OxyContin taken?
OxyContin is taken orally or rectally in the form of a pill when it’s prescribed. Drug abusers may crush up the pills and snort it, smoke it, or they may dissolve the tablets in water and inject it. Oxycodone can also be injected into the muscle, bloodstream, or under the skin.
Why do people use OxyContin?
People use OxyContin for pain when it’s prescribed, but those who abuse OxyContin use it to get high. Similar to other painkillers, abusers get a relaxed, calming, and euphoric feeling when used illicitly. People snort, smoke or inject OxyContin to get the full effect of it instead of experiencing a delayed time-release throughout the day.
SLANG TERMS
- Oxy
- OCs
- Oxycottons
- Oxycet
- Hillbilly Heroin
- 512s
- Killers
- C
History of
OxyContin
Oxycodone abuse started in the U.S. in the 1960s. It was used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms from opioids for heroin users and methadone users. OxyContin, which has a controlled release, was manufactured in 1996. Oxycodone is still used in medicine to treat pain. The abuse of OxyContin started on the East Coast and spread to the west, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Oxycodone was widely prescribed in the U.S. and became the top prescription drug that was abused in 2009, according to law enforcement officials. It’s been the top pharmaceutical drug abused every year since then. In 2016, 60 million prescriptions were written. However, with the opioid epidemic and a pattern of abuse with the drug, this number fell to 55 million in 2017, and 22 million for the first 6 months of 2018.
What are the Symptoms of OxyContin Addiction?
The effects of oxycodone can last up to 5 hours, and the effects of OxyContin can last for 6 to 12 hours due to its time-release design. When an OxyContin addiction is present, you’ll find that the user seems to have difficulty recalling memories or maintaining coordination. If you have a legal OxyContin prescription, you may notice pills or the whole bottle missing. An addict may also make multiple visits to the doctor to get access to more pills.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Dizziness
- Impaired memory
- Irregular breathing
- Using someone else’s OxyContin
- Multiple doctor visits for the pills
- Stealing prescriptions
- Withdrawing socially
- Weight loss
PARAPHERNALIA
- Pill bottles
- Straws
- Spoon with a burnt bottom
- Rolled up dollar bills
- Someone else’s prescription
- Mirrors
- Needles and syringes
- CD cases
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What are the Effects of OxyContin Addiction?
When someone is addicted to OxyContin, you may notice that they have mood swings, aggression, and an obsession with obtaining and using OxyContin. You or your loved one may experience flu-like symptoms when an OxyContin addiction is present. The opioid can visibly cause itching and cold and clammy skin. Mentally, it can cause delusional thinking and result in a coma.
Short Term Effects of
OxyContin Addiction
- Headaches
- Itching
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Cold, clammy skin
- Delusions
- Swelling of the throat
- Coma
Long Term Effects of
OxyContin Addiction
- Spinal fluid pressure
- Seizures
- Risk of fatal overdose
- Worsened mental illness
- Low blood pressure
- Slowed breathing
- Heart failure
- Death
OxyContin
Addiction Statistics
82%
increase in prescribed oxycodone in New York City from 2007 to 2010.
5 million
people abuse opioids every year in the U.S.
91
people die every day from the opioid epidemic.
How is OxyContin Addiction Treated?
Abusing OxyContin for a long period of time can lead to physical or psychological dependence on the drug. OxyContin addicts can also experience anxiety, insomnia, fever, and nausea when they try to detox. That’s why it’s ideal to detox under medical supervision in a rehabilitation center such as Gratitude Lodge. After detox, rehab can last from 30 days to a year depending on the severity of the addiction and other mental health concerns.
At Gratitude Lodge, we offer 24/7 medical guidance. Our residential inpatient rehabilitation facility in Long Beach and Newport Beach can help you or your loved one overcome OxyContin addiction or oxycodone addiction. In addition to detox programs, we offer individual counseling, small group therapy, and a 12-step recovery program. We offer a welcoming, pet-friendly environment where addicts can learn new habits that lead to a journey of recovery.
Common Drug Combinations with OxyContin?
Abusers of OxyContin commonly pair the pain reliever with alcohol and marijuana. Together, these drugs can cause reactions that can result in drowsiness and respiratory depression. Other prescription drugs can have the same dangerous interaction. Almost 25% of people who died from an opioid overdose in 2015 had a benzo in their system, the CDC reported. Mixing benzos and sedative anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax can cause trouble breathing and lead to a coma and even death.
- Alcohol
- Benzos
- Marijuana
- Opioid painkillers
- Heroin
- Xanax
- Cocaine
- Meth
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