Prescription Drug Addiction - OxyContin

Years ago, drug addicts had to go to the bad parts of town to get their drugs.

Some of the more upscale drug addicts may have been able to get accommodating dealers to deliver.

Not any more.

"The fastest growing addiction is not cocaine, heroin or crack," comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab Georgia. "the fastest growing addiction is to prescription drugs - ones found in the medicine cabinet, or purchased readily on the internet. Children steal these and sell or give these away at school. It's a whole new drug world out there."

Many people become unwittingly addicted to painkillers, especially OxyContin. After taking OxyContin for a few weeks, the body will go through opiate withdrawals if one stops taking the painkiller. Chills, cramps, muscle spasms, gastric upset- these are signs of opiate withdrawal.

What is OxyContin? OxyContin contains oxycodone, a derivative of opium. Opium is also used to produce morphine and heroin.

Oxycodone is synthesized from thebaine. Like morphine and hydromorphone, oxycodone is used as an analgesic. It is effective orally and is marketed alone in 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg controlled-release tablets (OxyContin®), or 5 mg immediate-release capsules (OxyIR®), or in combination products with aspirin (Percodan®) or acetaminophen (Percocet®) for the relief of pain. All oxycodone products are in Schedule II. Oxycodone is abused orally, or the tablets are crushed and sniffed or dissolved in water and injected. The use of oxycodone has increased significantly. In 1993, about 3.5 tons of oxycodone were manufactured for sale in the United States. In 2003, about 41 tons were manufactured.

Historically, oxycodone products have been popular drugs of abuse among the narcotic abusing population. In recent years, concern has grown among federal, state, and local officials about the dramatic increase in the illicit availability and abuse of OxyContin® products. These products contain large amounts of oxycodone (10 to 160 mg) in a formulation intended for slow release over about a 12-hour period.

Abusers have learned that this slow-release mechanism can be easily circumvented by crushing the tablet and swallowing, snorting, or injecting the drug product for a more rapid and intense high. The criminal activity associated with illicitly obtaining and distributing this drug, as well as serious consequences of illicit use, including addiction and fatal overdose deaths, are of epidemic proportions in some areas of the United States.

*Source: USDOJ.gov

If you know someone with a drug problem, send them to Narconon – we have a 76% success rate. 
 
For more information on drug addiction rehab, drug addiction, or drug education, call Narconon of Georgia at 1-877-413-3073.

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