OxyContin Warning: Prescription Drug Addiction

OxyContin, originally developed to treat pain in cancer patients, contains the opoid, oxycodone, used for treating moderate to severe pain. OxyContin was released in 1995 and by 2001 had become the most popular selling pain medication of its type on the market.  It continues to be a top selling pain medication, due to aggressive marketing campaigns by the manufacturer.

OxyContin may be much more addictive and dangerous than was originally thought when it was approved by the FDA.  Special care needs to be taken to make sure the drug is taken properly and does not become an addiction or lead to more serious problems, including overdose or death.

Mary Rieser, Executive Director of The Atlanta Recovery Center, stated: “We are seeing more and more prescription drug abuse. The FDA has recently released information to health care professional warning of the dangers of abuse with OxyContin and other prescription drugs.  Abuse of these painkillers can lead to addiction, overdose, and even death.  Narconon Drug Rehab believes the public should be aware of these dangers.”

The active ingredient in OxyContin is twice as potent as morphine.  It is time release and because it only needs to be taken every twelve hours, one pill contains more of the ingredient oxycodone, which helps contribute to its high abuse rate.  The FDA warns that this drug has “serious consequences, including addiction, overdose, and death.” 

“Parents should be warned that prescription pain pills in their medicine cabinet are trouble,” stated Ms. Rieser. “If a teen knows that he can get high on the pain pills found at home the attempt to party can turn to a devastating drug addiction – one that is no fun at all and can be deadly.”

For more information on drug addiction rehabilitation or drug education, call Atlanta Recovery Center at 1-877-574-2251.