OxyContin is an opioid drug that doctors use to treat chronic pain. Although highly effective, OxyContin can lead to addiction if not taken correctly. Becoming addicted to OxyContin can cause liver damage, seizures, coma, respiratory failure, overdose, and unintentional death. Addiction to this drug can also worsen pre-existing mental health disorders. The good news is that OxyContin addiction can be treated. Understanding OxyContin, knowing how the drug works, and recognizing the signs and symptoms of addiction can help individuals get the treatment they need, which can, in turn, save lives.
OxyContin is the brand-name version of Oxycodone, a popular prescription painkiller. Like other opioids, Oxycodone comes from the poppy plant. Even though many people misuse OxyContin, the drug was originally created to treat severe, chronic pain.
OxyContin was developed in 1995 to provide long-lasting pain relief so people with severe pain wouldn’t have to take pills as often. Doctors mainly prescribe OxyContin for moderate to severe pain resulting from injuries, bursitis, neuralgia, arthritis, and cancer. The tablets, which can be 10, 20, 40, or 80 milligrams, can vary in color and size depending on the dosage prescribed.
Unfortunately, people realized that when they crushed the tablet, the drug was released into the body more quickly, increasing the substance’s pain relief and euphoric effects. These increased effects caused people to misuse OxyContin. Soon, the drug, although beneficial, became associated with substance use and addiction.
When used recreationally, OxyContin is most commonly known as “Oxy,” but other street names for the drug include:
People abuse OxyContin for the same reasons doctors prescribe it: long-lasting effects. This characteristic means that OxyContin’s effects last longer than shorter-acting opioids such as codeine and hydrocodone. When people take OxyContin, the drug produces a euphoric, pleasurable, relaxing effect that’s similar to heroin. These effects increase when people take OxyContin in larger doses than prescribed. Simply put, people abuse OxyContin because the high they experience from this drug lasts longer.
Because of this potential for abuse, OxyContin is considered a Schedule II substance. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Schedule II substances have a high potential for abuse and cause psychological and physical dependence. Other examples of Schedule II drugs include Vicodin, cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, Adderall, and fentanyl.
Even though many people abuse OxyContin by taking the tablets without a prescription, some people crush the pills and sniff them, while other people let the tablets dissolve in water and inject them into their veins. Some people abuse OxyContin by heating a tablet on aluminum foil and inhaling the vapors.
People of all ages abuse OxyContin. Unfortunately, many start at a young age. In fact, in 2017, 1 in 7 teenagers admitted to taking a prescription drug like OxyContin without a doctor’s prescription. Even though people abuse OxyContin for a variety of different reasons, some of the most common reasons for use include:
Although OxyContin is an effective painkiller, taking the substance can lead to several side effects. These side effects, which can occur when OxyContin is taken as prescribed or misused, include:
More severe OxyContin side effects can include:
Despite these effects, many people continue to misuse and abuse OxyContin, increasing their risk for addiction.
In addition to relieving pain, OxyContin can also create feelings of pleasure and euphoria. These feelings can cause people to continue taking OxyContin long after their pain has subsided. Sadly, this can lead to addiction, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, an addiction to OxyContin generally occurs in stages, including:
Not everyone who misuses OxyContin uses the drug to experience euphoric effects. Often, they’re trying to treat a medical need, but the FDA categorizes these actions as misuse because they are not using OxyContin based on a doctor’s directions. Individuals who are misusing OxyContin can stop doing so with the help of a healthcare professional. Unfortunately, many people continue to misuse the drug and end up abusing the substance.
Unfortunately, this desire to get high often causes people to develop a tolerance for OxyContin.
Even though addiction doesn’t happen overnight, there are certain signs people tend to exhibit when they’ve developed an addiction to OxyContin.
The signs and symptoms of OxyContin addiction can vary based on the frequency of use and the amount of OxyContin used. Still, the most common symptoms affect people’s mood, behavior, physical body, and psychological well-being.
Some of the most common mood-related symptoms include:
Some recurring behavioral symptoms include:
Physical symptoms associated with OxyContin addiction include:
Psychological symptoms can include:
Being addicted to OxyContin can also negatively affect individuals’ cognitive abilities. Some of these symptoms include:
Addiction to OxyContin can also have long-term effects on the body and mind.
Abusing OxyContin can have detrimental long-term effects on a person’s mental, social, and physical well-being. Misusing and abusing OxyContin for an extended time can also undermine a person’s ability to function effectively in their day-to-day life.
Some of the most common physical long-term effects of OxyContin addiction include:
Remaining addicted to OxyContin can also increase your risk of developing mental health challenges, including:
Some of the long-term psychological effects of OxyContin abuse include:
Being addicted to OxyContin can also lead to:
Taking high doses of an opioid prescription medication like OxyContin can lead to a potentially fatal overdose. This is because a large dose of medication can lead to cardiac arrest or cause an individual’s system to shut down. Recognizing the symptoms of an OxyContin overdose can help save lives.
Some of the most common OxyContin overdose symptoms include:
In the event of an OxyContin overdose, dial 911 immediately for emergency medical help. Trained first responders can help perform CPR if needed, stabilize the individual, and provide them with intravenous fluids and naloxone, a drug that quickly reverses an opioid overdose.
Eliminating OxyContin from the body is one of the first steps an individual can and should take when they’re ready to regain control of their lives. But quitting OxyContin cold turkey is extremely risky. That’s why individuals should consider undergoing detox at a medically supervised facility or treatment program. Doing so allows medical personnel to monitor individuals’ vitals and help ease any physical or psychological withdrawal symptoms they may experience. Detoxification can be challenging, so it’s important that individuals know what to expect.
When people who are addicted to OxyContin stop using the substance, the brain and body have difficulty functioning. After undergoing an evaluation to assess an individual’s current health, detox plan, and recovery needs, the detoxification process begins. During this time, individuals:
1. Experience withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms can begin as soon as 24 hours after an individual’s last dose of OxyContin. Although symptoms can vary from person to person, some of the most common include:
Most symptoms clear up after 3 days, but OxyContin withdrawal can last up to two weeks. To help ease some of the discomfort associated with these symptoms, detoxification teams and medical professionals work to help stabilize the brain.
2. May take medication to help stabilize the brain. Medication can help quickly stabilize the brain and help an individual function without opioids. Not everyone overcoming OxyContin addiction will be prescribed medication, but for those that are, the medical detox team will administer an opioid replacement medicine such as buprenorphine. This medication attaches to the same neurons in the brain that OxyContin does, but its effects are not as significant, helping individuals taper off OxyContin. Once the brain is stabilized, individuals can begin addiction treatment.
Here at Meta, we provide addiction treatment through three different types of outpatient programs: outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization. This means that people can recover from OxyContin addiction while maintaining many aspects of their day-to-day lives.
Even though each of our addiction treatment programs varies in intensity, they all provide:
Some of our specific recovery and clinical services include:
OxyContin can be a blessing or a curse. If this prescription painkiller has become a problem for you, there’s hope. Our flexible outpatient addiction treatment programs can help you reclaim your life. Contact us today if you’re ready to live a thriving, purposeful, and sober life.