OxyContin Addiction

OxyContin addiction is characterized by continued compulsive OxyContin use, even as the continued drug abuse causes harm to the addict and those who love them. Many OxyContin addicts cannot stop using OxyContin without help, and will continue to use OxyContin even when wanting to stop. Although physical, mental, financial, and social consequences become worse, OxyContin addiction will keep an addict using the drug despite the consequences. Addicts will often become irritable and manufacture excuses to obtain prescriptions for OxyContin (or find ways to obtain it illegally).

In the recent years, OxyContin addiction has grown exponentially. This medication is one of the most commonly abused substances in the "invisible epidemic" of prescription drug abuse. OxyContin (active ingredient oxycodone) has become the signature prescription drug of choice for the rural United States. In some areas, it is even more widely abused than Vicodin (hydrocodone). It is used to treat severe pain when prescribed as intended. However, many drug addicts use it for recreation as the high it produces is somewhat similar to that of heroin.

OxyContin is the highest profile and most recognizable oxycodone-based medication. It derives its name from manufacturer Purdue Pharma's. Their intent was to create an oxycodone-based drug that would continuously release over the course of several hours. This "continuous" release was intended to prevent users from abusing the drug while maximizing its narcotic painkiller properties. But users have found that they can circumvent this safeguard by crushing up the medication or taking it intravenously.

People can quickly become physically and psychologically addicted to OxyContin, which reduces pain and relaxes both the physical body and the mind. OxyContin addiction is growing rapidly among prescription drug users, most likely because it is readily prescribed for many different types of pain problems.

Some symptoms of OxyContin addiction include:

• Mood Swings - an user may be passive and withdrawn one minute and angry or hostile the next.
• Personality Changes - a normally content or well-adjusted person becomes depressed and/or uncommunicative.
• Defensiveness - blaming or claiming to be persecuted or victimized.
• Overly Emotional - bouts of manic happiness and extreme depression or hostility.
• Strained Communication - unwillingness or inability to discuss important issues or concerns.
• Withdrawal from Family Activities - refusing to eat at family meals, participating in celebrations or holidays, or making any adjustments to family life.
• Lack of Self-Discipline - not participating in the usual routines and activities that the addicted individual once regularly partook in.
• Anxious Behavior - Chronic jittery, jerky, or uneven movements, fearfulness, compulsiveness, and talkativeness.
• An obsession with doctors, doctor visits, getting prescriptions filled, and so on.
• An obsession with pain, people who seem to manufacture their own pain, even when no injury exists.
• An over sensitivity to pain.
• Buying opiate drugs off the street or from sources other than the pharmacy.
• Doing illegal things to obtain medications. Going to multiple doctors and emergency rooms to try and get multiple prescriptions.
• Injuring oneself purposefully in order to obtain pain medication.

Many OxyContin addicts choose addiction treatment as an effective way to stop active OxyContin addiction and begin recovery. If you are suffering from OxyContin addiction, or if someone you know is addicted to OxyContin, we can help.

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