One of the first signs of an OxyContin addiction is developing a tolerance, meaning a user requires more of the substance to achieve the desired effect. Someone prescribed OxyContin may become dependent on the drug due to chemical changes in the brain after prolonged use, causing the user to experience withdrawal symptoms if use is ceased or reduced. In many cases of OxyContin addiction, users will turn to illicit means of obtaining the drug once the doctor’s prescription runs out. The lifetime prevalence rate for opioid addiction in adults in the U.S. is estimated to be 9%. There is little information regarding prevalence rates for oxycodone abuse alone.
Get Help for Oxycodone Addiction
Inpatient rehab or an outpatient treatment program combined with ongoing therapy and support can help oxycodone users achieve sobriety. For more information about oxycodone abuse and addiction treatment, you may want to reach out to your doctor. Or you can contact one of our admissions navigators at for the information and support you are looking for as you seek oxycodone abuse treatment. For medical purposes, oxycodone is most commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain.
- If the pharmaceutical industry had held patient reports in as high esteem as lab reports, our nation might have dodged much of the tragedy we face today.
- “Over time, the regular use of oxycodone results in difficulties for the brain and body to produce natural opioids as well as other natural feel-good chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin,” says Aaron Sternlicht, a family addiction specialist in New York City.
- However, reports from the Department of Justice indicated that over 13 million adults in the U.S. have used oxycodone in ways not intended by their prescribing physician, or have abused, become dependent upon, or addicted to the substance.
- Call one of our caring admissions navigators at to learn about treatment options and check your insurance at our facilities.
- Four of these patients were older males who were admitted for alcohol problems only.
- When your body adapts to the presence of oxycodone, it can be extremely difficult to end your use without effective professional treatment.
Get the facts about oxycodone abuse and addiction
People addicted to oxycodone may take the drug to get high, treat pain, relieve stress or avoid withdrawal symptoms. They may experience difficulties functioning at work, what is alcoholism in school or in social situations and prioritize obtaining the drug over anything else. The duration and intensity of withdrawal symptoms can vary widely, depending on the extent of the dependence. People who’ve been using larger amounts of oxycodone for longer periods will typically suffer more severe symptoms. If you’re living with lifelong pain, opioids aren’t likely to be a safe and effective long-term treatment option.
- Carise, Dugosh, McLellan, Camilleri, and Lynch report no competing interests.
- However, the study calculated average rates of misuse to be between 21% and 29%, and rates of addiction between 8% and 12%.
- Programs like these can be helpful for some; however, they generally work best for individuals with mild to potentially moderate substance use conditions.
- Coupled with pain-relieving properties, this high can feel extremely comforting to the user, but it may mask other effects that can pose a threat to the user’s life.
- Donations from opioid manufacturers to politicians continue to influence policy decisions.
Artificial intelligence’s potential health benefits, risks discussed at conference
- The best thing an individual trying to quit using OxyContin can do is to seek the help of a detox program in which they can kick their addiction to OxyContin under the supervision of a trained medical staff.
- In my own research, I’ve found that people often describe drug use as a battle between sobriety and death.
- As the overdose crisis evolves, communities of color in particular have experienced a surge in fatal overdoses – deaths that are often preventable.
- However, misusing oxycodone, either to self-medicate or for recreational purposes, can expose you to considerable harm, including overdose and addiction.
Someone who demonstrates the following signs may be struggling with oxycodone abuse or addiction. Effects of OxyContin will vary based on the individual, length of abuse, =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ degree of physical dependence, use of other substances, and frequency of abuse. OxyContin addiction can often times be hidden in plain sight, making it difficult to identify. Understanding and recognizing the signs, symptoms, risks and more is the first step in the recovery journey. Injecting, snorting or consuming oxycodone in high doses drastically increases the chances of overdose.
Once you have identified the problem and realize the dangers of untreated oxycodone addiction, you will be better prepared to seek treatment for yourself or your loved one. This article will provide in-depth information about several topics pertaining to oxycodone addiction and misuse, including what oxycodone is, what the signs of oxycodone addiction are, and what the potential risks of overdose may be. Many people in recovery find support from groups such as Narcotics Anonymous to be helpful.
Make an impact on medicine!
According to the United States Department of Justice, more than 13 million Americans abuse oxycodone, including some children as young as 12 years old. The nature and symptoms of a dependence on morphine or oxycodone are virtually the same. To find an inpatient facility near you, consider How Addictive Is OxyContin using this treatment locator through SAMHSA. One popular type of therapy for addiction is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In either case, an addiction is an inability to stop using oxycodone, even though you’re experiencing physical, emotional, and behavioral difficulties as a result of using it. Whether this is happening to you or someone you love, know that you’re not alone.
