- Adderall
- Alcohol
- Barbiturates
- Chronic Relapse
- Cocaine
- Codependency
- Compulsive Hoarding
- Crack Cocaine
- Crystal Meth
- Dual Diagnosis
- Eating Disorder
- Ecstasy
- Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- Gender Specific Issues
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Inhalants
- Ketamine (Special K)
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
- Marijuana
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- OxyContin
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Prescription Drug Abuse
- Process Addiction
- Ritalin and Concerta
- Sex and Love Addiction
- Steroids
- Suboxone
- Synthetic Cannabis
- Trauma
- Valium
- Video Game Addiction
- Xanax
OxyContin
OxyContin is the brand name for the opioid analgesic Oxycodone, which is a semi-synthetic narcotic derived from opium. It is a Schedule II drug and is available by prescription only, and is used to treat moderate pain; when Oxycodone is combined with nonnarcotic analgesics it is sold under the brand names Percocet (acetominopen) and Percodan (aspirin). OxyContin is the controlled-release variant of Oxycodone, and is used to treat pain when an around-the-clock analgesic is needed over an extended time.
OxyContin is often referred to as OC, OX, Oxy, or Oxycotton, and is available in capsule, liquid, and tablet form. Because it available only through prescription, abusers employ a number of different tactics to acquire it. Among these are methods are “doctor-shopping,” forging prescriptions, and robberies of pharmacies and nursing homes. Oxycodone (and OxyContin) use and abuse is prevalent across all demographic groups.
Symptoms of abuse
Among the physical signs of Oxycodone abuse are:
- Respiratory impairment
- Apathy
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Low blood pressure
- Low heart rate
- Coma
- Death
Psychological effects include:
- Irritability
- Dependence
- Decreased motivation
Taken orally, Oxycodone’s effects last for up to five hours, with Oxycontin’s effects lasting from eight to twelve hours. Its unsupervised use, and its abuse, can lead to tolerance for the drug – requiring increasingly larger dosage to achieve the desired effect – as well as physical dependence, and addiction.
Because Oxycontin affects the central nervous system it (including Oxycodone, Percodan, and Percocet) are especially life-threatening if combined with alcohol or benzodiapines such as Xanax and Valium.
Treatment
As long term abuse leads to addiction, stopping its use brings about withdrawal. Any treatment program begins with detoxification, followed by long-term inpatient rehabilitation. Gradual tapering off of the drug is the preferred method of detoxification (under medical supervision) and a therapeutic community structure for rehabilitation provides the most successful treatment. The patient should also be examined for co-occurring disorders in order to be sure that rehabilitation is successful. Strong support systems must also be available after inpatient treatment has been concluded in order to prevent a relapse.