What is OxyContin?

OxyContin is the brand name for oxycodone hydrochloride (HCL) and is a drug that is known as a controlled-release form of oxycodone. It is normally prescribed for the treatment of chronic pain. When it is taken according to a physician’s prescription, it can effectively relieve pain for up to 12 hours at a time. Unfortunately, it is one of the more popular prescription drugs being sold on the streets to recreational drug users. Millions of Americans today are using prescription painkillers such as OxyContin for non-medical reasons.

How does the drug work?

The drug oxycodone is referred to as an agonist opioid which is a group of analgesics that are some of the most effective ones available. Unlike other analgesics or painkillers, opioid agonists exhibit increasing painkilling effects as the doses of them is increased. Technically, this means that when you take more of the drug, you will feel increasingly better. Conversely, other painkillers such as acetaminophen and aspirin have an effectiveness threshold that once it is reach, the drug produces no additional pain relief.

Like other opiates and opioids, OxyContin becomes dangerously addictive when it is used recreationally. Most individuals who abuse OxyContin do not take it orally in order to avoid the controlled release aspect of the medication. They will either chew it, inject it, or snort it in order to get an immediate, intense high. The more the drug is used, the more a tolerance builds up, eventually leading to OxyContin addiction or dependency. As the addiction or dependency gets more severe, the more professional help is needed.

5 facts about OxyContin that you need to be aware of

It was only recently that OxyContin hit the drug scene with immediate popularity as it quickly became a popular favorite with recreational drug users. The drug was so powerful, that many heroin users began taking it when they were in need of a fix. Here are 5 facts that you need to be aware of regarding OxyContin and OxyContin addiction:

1. When it is used improperly, OxyContin is an extremely dangerous substance – ingesting the drug by chewing or snorting averts the controlled release mechanism of it and deaths from overdose are not uncommon when it is ingested this way.
2. OxyContin users are getting younger all the time – unfortunately, children today get into an early habit or practice of raiding the medicine cabinets of their parents when they decide they want to experiment with prescription medications.
3. OxyContin is more powerful than what you think – it is powerful enough that many heroin addicts have started substituting OxyContin for their heroin addiction. OxyContin addiction is now a common problem in society and a serious public health threat.
4. The drug causes people to cheat, lie, and steal – once the addiction to OxyContin has taken over, many individuals will do anything to keep getting the drug. This includes participating in criminal behavior if they feel it is necessary.
5. You may experience withdrawal symptoms – when a person with an OxyContin addiction abruptly quits taking the drug, withdrawal symptoms quickly occur. These symptoms can be extremely unpleasant and the cravings that result may eventually cause the person to relapse.

Additionally, the manufacturer of OxyContin has been involved in ongoing controversy and many high-profile legal suits have been filed over the past several years.

Signs of OxyContin addiction and withdrawal symptoms

The two primary signs of OxyContin addiction are ingesting the drug by injecting or snorting instead of taking orally like it should be and the constant pre-occupation with acquiring more of the drug. When an individual who is suffering with an addiction to this drug, they will usually succumb to physical withdrawal symptoms when they abruptly stop taking the drug and their bodies are craving more of the drug. These signs or symptoms include:

• anxiety
• chills and fever
• diarrhea
• flu-like symptoms
• insomnia and restlessness
• joint and muscle pain
• nausea and vomiting
• stomach cramping
• sweats
• tremors and twitching
• weakness

Despite the adverse side effects of OxyContin addiction, the person continues to take the drug and will usually stop at nothing to keep getting it. This is not uncommon behavior for a person whose life is being controlled by the dependency they have on this drug.

3 stages of recovering from OxyContin addiction

In most cases, OxyContin addiction began as an innocent act of either experimenting with the drug or taking it as prescribed for pain by a licensed physician. However, the more you took the drug, the more your tolerance to it built up and eventually, an addiction developed. If this has happened to you and you have decided to enter an addiction treatment and recovery center for professional help you probably are wondering what to expect and may be having a little fear of the unknown, namely learning how to live without the drug.

There are three stages to recovering from OxyContin addiction or any other for that matter. These stages include:

1. Detox and withdrawal – this is by far the most difficult and unpleasant stage of the three, but it does get easier. You will undoubtedly undergo the physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms mentioned above. However, to ensure your comfort and safety while enduring this stage, you will be under the care, monitoring, and supervision of a medical professional on an around-the-clock basis.
2. Group and individual counseling – you will engage with your peers and staff members in the group setting and alternate with individual counseling sessions with addiction specialists and therapists in a one-on-one setting. Both types of counseling enable you to progress into the recovery stage as you work towards completing the program and eventually returning home to live substance-free.
3. Aftercare and support – one of the most critical aspects of the ongoing recovery stage is entering an aftercare program and getting involved in one of the many support groups that are available to further enhance your recovery from OxyContin addiction.

If you would like more information regarding our facility and our OxyContin addiction rehab programs, please contact the Delray Recovery Center today at the toll-free phone number listed above.