Oxycontin a Highly Addictive and Popular Prescription Drug

Oxycontin A Highly Addictive And Popular Prescription Drug

One of the most powerful pain killers on the market today is the brand name, Oxycontin.  Usually prescribed for those that have severe pain, cancer patients and those with chronic pain, it is also one of the most addictive drugs available.  Oxycontin is an opiate with the main ingredient of oxycodone.  Although this is a synthetic opiate, it still can cause an opiate addiction and cause patients to enter into a drug treatment center to get free from its debilitating effects.

Once only used for medical needs, this drug is now very popular “on the street” and is the drug of choice for many users.  Yes, they understand that it causes an opiate addiction, but the euphoria that accompanies its misuse is very popular with today’s drug culture.  And now that it’s the most frequently prescribed pain killer, there are more and more people in society with an opiate addiction and many of them are unaware that this is even happening until they end up in a drug treatment center trying to get clean.  This “pain killer” has resulted in so many people acquiring an opiate addiction, that if anyone is caught with a prescription that is not their own, they are subject to criminal prosecution. 

Unlike an alcohol addiction that might take years to develop abuse and need an alcohol rehab program, Oxycontin becomes addictive very quickly.  Unfortunately, most of those that use it as a recreational drug of choice become so affected and they do not even realize they have an opiate addiction.  However, there are others who become dependent on Oxycontin after forming a habit of taking it for pain over a period of time.  Unfortunately, those who dabble recreationally with this drug generally develop a tolerance and need higher and higher doses to get the same pain relief or achieve the same high. 

Signs and symptoms of opiate addiction, including Oxycontin are: dizziness, weakness, nodding in and out of consciousness, confusion, displacement, small pupils, clammy skin, nausea and vomiting and even seizures.  Withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction and should be overseen by professionals at a drug treatment center are: anxiety, insomnia, tremors, weakness, irritability, nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure,  heart palpitations, bone and muscle pain and high respiratory rate.  Withdrawing is almost impossible to do alone.  This process is very painful and needs to be monitored by those that work in a drug treatment center and have experience working with an opiate addiction.