Oxycontin Treatment

Oxycontin is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to severe pain. The active ingredient in Oxycontin is Oxycodone which is a Schedule II narcotic that is widely used in medicine. Oxycontin is merely a time-released form on Oxycodone. These Oxycodone products have been abused for the past 30 years and are generously prescribed in many physicians’ offices, in emergency rooms, and dentist offices. Oxycontin is by far the most powerful of these drugs due to its timed release characteristic. Since its introduction in 1996, Oxycontin abuse has led to a significant increase in overdoses. As with most opiates, Oxycontin abuse may lead to dependence and tolerance. Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, meaning that users need higher doses to achieve the desired effects. Long-term use can also lead to physical dependence and addiction. The body adapts to the presence of the drug and withdrawal occurs if use is reduced or stopped. Prescription medicine abuse, particularly pain medications, is a serious problem among young addicts. According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America’s annual study, one in five young adults has abused a prescription medication. Many young adults think these drugs are safe because they are prescribed for a family member for pain.

Referred to as “Oxys”, “O.C.”, and “Hillbilly Heroin”, Oxycontin abusers either crush the tablet and ingest or snort it or dilute it in water and inject it. Crushing or diluting the tablet disarms the timed-release action of the medication and causes a quick, powerful high. Abusers have compared this feeling to the euphoria they experience when using heroin, and in some areas, the use of heroin is overshadowed by the abuse of Oxycontin.

Abuse of prescription pain medication is not new. Two primary factors set Oxycontin abuse apart from other prescription drug abuse. First, Oxycontin is a powerful drug that contains a much larger amount of the active ingredient, oxycodone, than other prescription pain relievers. Second, great profits are to be made in the illegal sale of Oxycontin. Add in the fact that insurance pays for prescribed medication, and you have a powerfully euphoric drug that is relatively inexpensive. In some cases where insurance refuses or stops paying for Oxycontin, abusers oftentimes will use heroin as the “high” is similar and cheaper.

Oxycontin and heroin have similar effects; therefore, both drugs are attractive to the same abuser population. Oxycontin is also sometimes referred to as the “poor mans heroin”, despite the price it commands at the street level. A 40mg tablet of Oxycontin by prescription costs $4.00 a pill. That same 40mg tablet costs $40.00 on the street illegally.

Addiction to opioids used for legitimate medical purposes under a qualified physician’s care is rare. According to NIDA however, many physicians limit prescribing powerful opioid pain medications because they believe patients may become addicted to the drugs. Recent evidence suggests however that unlike opioid abusers, most healthy, nondrug-abusing patients do not report euphoria after being administered opioids, possibly because their level of pain may reduce some of the opioids euphoric effects making patients less likely to become abusers.

Treating Oxycontin Addiction and Abuse

Oxycontin addiction treatment mirrors that for treatment of heroin addiction. As with most other drugs of addiction, the substance is merely a symptom of what is wrong. People addicted to Oxycontin are addicted to heroin for the same reasons. Drugs make addicts feel whole, they make everything alright in the world. Drugs enable addicts to deal with feelings by not dealing. Drugs make procrastination acceptable in their lives. It usually takes a crisis or some other tragedy in the addict’s life for them to begin to think they need help.

We at Ambrosia Treatment Center have found a proven method that works. Anyone willing to work at getting better can benefit from these methods and change life-long self defeating behavior patterns.

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