Once people get addicted to these prescription painkillers, they should seriously consider detox and rehab for recovery. But the problem is two-fold – not everyone who is addicted to this drug knows they are addicted, and people who abuse it recreationally are hesitant to stop.
Oxycontin can be an effective painkiller when it is used correctly. But far too often, people abuse it for one reason or another. Some of the more common ways this drug is abused include:
When this drug is abused, people can get addicted to it quickly. While it may take a few months to get addicted for some, others may feel dependent upon it after only a few weeks.
We want people to be more aware of the dangers of abusing Oxycontin. For those who are addicted to it, we want them to know that help is available. The right detox and rehab can provide them with the support they need to walk away from this addiction once and for all.
Oxycodone, also known as Percocet, is a semi-synthetic medication deriving from the opium plant.
The main use of this drug is to provide pain relief, and Percocet comes in various doses to support moderate levels of pain. Oxycontin can be used for symptoms like arthritis and to relieve the pain symptoms that affect cancer patients. This drug was formulated for use in 1916, and it was developed as a solution for moderate to chronic pain management.
The oxycodone high is known to be addictive and easily abused. Studies researching the abuse can be found as early as the 1960s. Users of this drug would experience numbing effects, along with a variety of negative side effects to the person's body and emotional well-being. Oxycontin's chemical structure is not unlike other medications, such as codeine and morphine. Substance abusers find the effects of Oxycontin often mirror heroin.
The drug has been classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule II substance. Based on this classification, the DEA lists drugs under this schedule as "...substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical "dependence."
Oxycontin, or Oxy for short, has been used for various ailments. Specifically, the oxy drug is for the governance of pain. This drug was formulated from the organic compound thebaine found in the opium plant. It works with brain inhibitors to alter the patient's ability to feel pain. Taking the drug at the prescribed dose allows the patient to lessen their moderate to chronic pain. This in turn improves their quality of life. Unfortunately, oxycodone and its side effects it can also trigger addiction.
Oxycontin has many pharmaceutical names, and can be seen on pharmaceutical labels such as Percocet, Percodan, and Tylox. These varying medications all contain oxycodone, and varying ingredients not unlike aspirin. This drug can come in a variety of doses ranging in strengths based between oxycodone 5mg to 80mg. Oxy is meant to supply its user with long term pain relief, typically lasting up to 12 hours at a time.
Oxy can be taken in many ways. It is not uncommon to receive the drug orally and in pill form, however it can be administered in alternative forms. The drug can be given to a patient intramuscularly, which involves injecting the Oxy drug directly into the person's muscle, and it can also be given intravenously. Intravenous medications require the practitioner to administer the drug into the bloodstream via a needle. Oxycontin dosage can also be given rectally.
Oxycodone as we've seen can come in an alarming number of alternative names.
How about Oxycontin vs oxycodone? What's the difference? The Percocet and Oxycontin brand names of oxycodone are best known to the general public, but it is known under different aliases on the street.
Some street names for Oxycontin are:
Oxycontin dosage and Percocet dosage can also come in numeral nicknames, such as:
The numeral aliases are not used often, but they describe the oxycodone or Percocet dosage (such as oxycodone 5mg, or oxycodone 10mg equating to 5s and 10s) itself when attempting to find it on the street. There are inherent dangers surrounding this specific naming convention, as someone may not understand the oxycodone dosages and may ask for a much bigger dosage than they can handle. An oxycodone 5mg or oxycodone 10mg dose is distinctively smaller than a 40 or 80mg dose, and not understanding that difference can be life threatening.
Oxycodone's street names are numerous. It is important to keep up with the alternative names of drugs such as Oxycontin to keep your loved ones aware of their dangers. When in doubt, do a quick internet search to check up on the ever-changing names of this drug.
Oxy's monetary street value has been known to be higher than most pharmaceuticals because of its pain-relieving properties. "OxyContin can be rather "expensive. A 40mg tablet (prescribed from a doctor) costs approximately $4, but the street value (the cost when illegally obtaining the drug) can range in price from $25 to $40."
Oxycontin is considered one of the “major players” in the opioid crisis. It is incredibly addictive, and once a person starts taking it regularly, it can be nearly impossible to stop without treatment.
This drug has had a profound impact on Idaho, as referenced by the following news stories.
In January 2020, a teenager from Nampa, Idaho overdosed on a blue pill that he had purchased from someone on SnapChat. He thought that the pill was Oxycontin, but it was not. He paid $30 for the pill, which caused him to stop breathing.
The boy’s father began performing CPR on him once they discovered his condition. He was taken to the hospital and had to receive five doses of the life-saving drug, Narcan. He was revived and treated in ICU before being released.
His toxicology report did not show that Oxycontin was in his system. Hospital staff indicated that he may have taken a synthetic drug that was laced with the even more powerful opioid, Fentanyl. Fortunately, he survived the incident; although doctors were questioning whether he would.
The Idaho State Attorney General called Purdue Pharma’s marketing of Oxycontin one of the “deadliest marketing campaigns in history.” As a result, Idaho is suing the company as well as the Sackler family who owns it for their role in the opioid epidemic.
The lawsuit cites the following statistics:
Purdue Pharma has denied any allegations in the litigation against the company. They believe the claims are sensationalized and that they are only part of a continuing effort to avoid the justice system. Instead, cases like this one are being tried in a court of public opinion, according to a statement they made.
The lawsuit claims that Purdue Pharma campaigned for changes in people’s perception of opioids by downplaying their risks. It also claims that they aggressively encouraged the much broader use of drugs like Oxycontin, which were not appropriate.
Interestingly enough, NBC News reported that the New York Attorney General’s Office uncovered at least $1 billion in wire transfers from the Sackler family. This discovery only supports the claim that they are trying to hide their assets because of the growing number of lawsuits.
Opiates like Percocet (Oxycontin) and Hydrocodone (Vicodin) affect the brain very similarly. Both are opioids, and both drugs share comparable characteristics.
These drugs provide a sense of wellbeing, and they stimulate the brain's pleasure sensors. When these drugs are abused (e.g., the user crushes either an Oxycontin or Vicodin tablet and snorts it), they stimulate the body's euphoric sensors with an overwhelming rush. The drug overstimulates the body's various opioid receptors that can be found in the brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs. This method of use can lead to disastrous consequences. Those who abuse drugs like Oxy and Vicodin can tend to run into respiratory issues when overusing the drugs. It can lead to low and shallow breathing, which can stop breath altogether when taken in high and immediate doses.
Addiction to Oxycontin and other opiate-related drugs like Percocet and Hydrocodone can lead to overdose or death. Many users who move on to abuse these opioids develop a tolerance to the drug, which requires the user to take higher, more intense doses. The Oxycontin withdrawal is what keeps addicts coming back for more. According to NIDA, "The establishment of tolerance hinges on the ability of abused opioids (e.g., OxyContin, morphine) to desensitize the brain's own "natural opioid system, making it less responsive over time. This tolerance contributes to the high risk of overdose during a relapse to opioid use after a period in recovery; users who do not realize they may have lost their tolerance during a period of abstinence may initially take the high dosage that they previously had used before quitting, a dosage that produces an overdose in the person who no longer has tolerance."
Oxycontin abuse can exist due to many co-occurring disorders within its user. Some co-occurring disorders that can facilitate Oxycontin abuse are:
Knowing how Oxycontin abuse will affect other co-occurring disorders is paramount. Introducing the oxycodone high with other substances can be fatal, and can exacerbate other side effects aligned with other disorders or addictions.
Oxy addiction has become a rampant problem over the last few decades. When abused, the oxycodone side effects can lead to some serious and negative symptoms, including:
Oxycontin abuse signals are very like other addictions. According to Narconon, "An addicted person may start neglecting health, family, work and other "responsibilities. There may be money or items in the home missing, or items belonging to other people may be missing. The person may start offering excuses for every problem that comes up - but none of the many problems are their fault." Keeping your eyes peeled for strange or abnormal behavior is the best indicator if someone you love is addicted to Oxycontin and other drugs.
Percocet abuse is accompanied by unpleasant, painful side effects such as:
The most catastrophic oxycodone side effects can lead to fatal overdose. Overdose symptoms can be:
If you feel you or someone you know is exhibiting any of the above side effects, it is important that they know how to get the help they need. Learning more about the abuse and its consequences to your body and mind can assist in the journey to recovery.
The abuse of prescription drugs is a growing problem. As Oxycontin dosages become readily available illegally, the abuse and addiction of these drugs will continue to increase. The number of prescribed users are staggering. NIDA states, "The number of prescriptions for opioids (like hydrocodone and oxycodone products) have "escalated from around 76 million in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013, with the United States their biggest consumer globally, accounting for almost 100 percent of the world total for hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin) and 81 percent for oxycodone (e.g., Percocet)."
In conjunction with the hard statistics of increased users who are abusing prescription drugs like Percocet and Oxycontin, Purdue Pharma has attempted to solve this crisis with a reformulated version of this drug. Targiniq ER (ER - extended release) is an oxycodone based alternative to prescriptions like Oxycontin that combines the same pain relief in Oxy, with a preventative measure added in. Narconon states, "What makes this pill different is that is contains another ingredient, naloxone. "Naloxone blocks the effects of the opiate, making it non-euphoric if it is abused. This is the same substance that has started being distributed to first responders, like police, so they can bring back a heroin or painkiller user from an overdose. The naloxone only kicks in if the pill is crushed to be snorted or injected. If a person takes the drug by mouth, it won't have any effect."
The Food and Drug Administration have praised the creation of this pill, as the numbers of prescription drug abuse has skyrocketed within the last decade. They're hoping that this addiction-proof pill can be a good solution to the growing abuse problem. It may be the beginning of new drug therapies that incorporate opioid blockers to lower the risk of addiction.
Oxycontin addiction can lead to severe and ultimately fatal consequences. Oxycontin vs oxycodone addictions don't have discernable differences. Both drugs are similar and, therefore, treated similarly. Ashwood Recovery's facility and programs have been carefully developed with you in mind. If you or someone you know is struggling with Oxycontin addiction, our programs and therapeutic approaches can help. We understand that addiction is not superficial, and our approach is centered at finding the struggles at the core of your addiction. Through our various services, we can help on your journey to leading a healthy life.
Anyone who is addicted to Oxycontin should strongly consider getting professional treatment. These individuals need a combination of detox and rehab in order to properly address their addictions.
During detox, the goal is to remove toxins from the body and relieve withdrawal symptoms. Opioid withdrawal can be extremely difficult to go through, which is why medical detox is typically recommended. There are many medications that can help people get relief from withdrawal, including Vivitrol, Suboxone and Buprenorphine.
Rehab is the next step, and it is just as important. It allows people the opportunity to work through the issues that led to their addictions. It also allows them to get help from any co-occurring disorders they may suffer from.
At Ashwood Recovery, our outpatient rehab program is often considered one of the best in Idaho, if not the northwest region. We offer three levels of care – traditional outpatient rehab, intensive outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization. This allows us to better meet our clients’ needs.
We participate with many of the top health insurance companies in Idaho, including Blue Cross of Idaho. This has made it much more affordable for people in our state to invest in quality addiction treatment.
It can be a challenge to recover from an Oxycontin addiction. At Ashwood Recovery, we are here to provide much-needed support to our clients during this trying time.
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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