Oxycontin Addiction

Oxycontin is a prescription drug that has been classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. A prescription drug receives this title if it is thought to have a high potential for abuse or addiction. It is thought that over a million and a half people in the United States use Oxycontin for non-medical reasons, meaning they have not been prescribed this medication or they abuse the prescription they have been given. Like with all prescription drug abuse, it is extremely hard to know when a person is abusing these drugs. Oxycontin is an opioid that is extremely useful in relieving pain. Doctors prescribe their patients Oxycontin to deal with incidents such as major surgeries, broken bones and accidents. People with chronic pain such as back or neck pain are also prescribed Oxycontin to help lessen their suffering.

The problem with Oxycontin and other drugs like it is that they have a very high potential for abuse and addiction. Most controlled and illicit substances have the potential for psychological addiction, however some painkillers also have extremely high rates of physical addiction, meaning a person's body comes to rely upon a drug such as Oxycontin to function normally. The brain begins to think that the chemicals contained in Oxycontin are vital to its functioning and the response it produces to not having enough of the drug is called a craving. Once a person has become addicted to a drug, the dependency is difficult to stop. The cravings are so powerful that taking more of the drug begins to be second nature; something that the person has to do in order to survive. Further, a person will also experience increased tolerance during which he/she will need more of the drug in order to get the same feeling he/she used to get from less of the drug.

If taken correctly Oxycontin, like other pain relief-type drugs can provide up to 12 hours of relief from pain, however many people want to feel the intense euphoria they felt when they took it the first time so they find other methods by which to take the drug. These methods include snorting, chewing and injecting the drug as a means to make the drug take effect faster. Oxycontin addiction is a condition that has received large amounts of publicity in the last few years, and many treatment facilities have created rehabilitation plans that deal specifically with Oxycontin addiction. Even though prescription drug addiction is like other types of illicit drug addiction, there are some factors that need special consideration. For this reason, it is recommended that you find a facility that has a program that specializes in the treatment of prescription drug addiction.

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