Oxycontin Addiction

OxyContin is a highly potent analgesic pain killer that was originally manufactured to relieve the pain of terminally ill cancer patients. The active ingredient is Oxycodone. It is similar to codeine in their opiate-based properties but it is more powerful in its pain-relieving component and therefor more addicting. OxyContin is a time-released drug that is made at a concentrated level that lasts in the blood stream for eight to 12 hours. Oxycodone has been prescribed for decades to alleviate serious pain for ailments such as post surgical pain, migraines, arthritis, broken bones and back pain. Other brands such as Percocet and Percodan contain five milligrams of the drug whereas OxyContin has 10, 20, 40, 80 and even 160 milligrams of Oxycodone. OxyContin addiction is considered to be one of the top five drug abuse and addiction problems in the U.S. It is relatively easy to get it on the street and pills range from $5 to $40 depending on the milligram dosage. OxyContin is also easily acquired through a medical doctor and some clinics. The most popular way to take OxyContin is to crush the time-released tablets and snort the powder, or mixing it with water and injecting it. Through injection all the powerful milligrams of the tablet can be released directly into the blood stream which produces an intense "rush" similar to heroin or morphine. It does not take a long time to become completely addicted to OxyContin. Even properly prescribed OxyContin has a high risk for potential addiction, as with any other strong opiate-based drug. Tolerance for the drug can build fast, therefor more OxyContin must be taken to feel the desired effects, resulting in a physical and most cases psychological addiction in a short period of time with regular usage. Withdrawals from OxyContin can be more emotionally and physically difficult than heroin because of its synthetic time release properties. Many deaths across the U.S. have resulted from OxyContin abuse due to overdoses or by combining it with other drugs.

OxyContin is prescribed for severe medical conditions and for cancer patients. The lagging problem today is that OxyContin is incorrectly prescribed, prescriptions are forged, or it is obtained on the streets since it is cheaper than heroin. The high milligram OxyContins are the most desired and also the more dangerous as well. These high doses that are snorted or injected can be fatal. Long-term use of pain killers can cause addiction easily, just like harder drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and opium. Just because some drugs are prescribed legally doesn’t mean that it’s any less dangerous or harmful. Oxycontin treatment

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