Navigating Oxycodone Addiction & Withdrawal Symptoms
Oxycodone is a prescription drug, which means that if you are using it, you could have been provided the medication by your doctor. So, it is legit. Or someone in your family uses it to fight a nagging pain. Unfortunately, while the drug is in itself legit, the tendency to overuse it is not.
The more you use it, the harder it turns out – it is to get out of the habit. Oxycodone is a painkiller for sure, but it has damaging side effects, so when it comes to the use of this medication, one must be careful even if it happens to be the first time. Overuse has led to what is being increasingly labeled as the American Epidemic.
Statistics of Oxycodone Addiction: A burden on healthcare
Opioid addiction is an uncontrolled epidemic in America. One of the most evident signs of Oxycodone addiction is overdosing. In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died from a prescription drug overdose. (Source: Wiki)
Opioid misuse has spread like wildfire in the US. Consider the statistics. The US accounts for 4,4 % of the world’s population and yet consumes more than 80 % of oxycodone.
99% of hydrocodone consumption is in America alone
Of the 207 million prescriptions that were filed in America in 2013 (almost triple the number filed in 1991) the three most common ones were for oxycodone, hydrocodone, and Percocet – all painkillers – that come with the label of being highly addictive.
What is Oxycodone – Painkiller or Deadly Drug?
Simply put, Oxycodone is an opioid. It is however synthetically produced, unlike heroin which is a derivative of the poppy crop. It has been for a long time used by medical professionals for the treatment of moderate to extreme pain. Opioid treatment for pain is widespread in America. Many believe that in potency, oxycodone is like morphine – that ancient Chinese drug that results in a “High” or euphoria while providing relief from pain and a calming effect. But with the benefits comes an extremely high risk of overuse as it is believed to be one of the three most commonly used drugs that were responsible for causing overdosing deaths in the US.
Causes and risk factors of addiction: Are females at higher risk of abuse?
As one of the most over-prescribed drugs in America, oxycodone is associated with high instances of abuse, dependence, addiction, overdosing, and also untimely deaths. Here’s explaining the causes and risk factors:
1) Oxycodone is classified as a Schedule II drug. That simply means that it is a dangerous drug, with potent side effects such as the tendency to develop a dependency. Not to mention the physical side effects.
2) Hence, if you have been prescribed the drug, use it only as recommended by the doctor. Even if you have legitimate reasons for using the drug, remember that it is not candy that can be popped as per wish.
3) A majority of those being prescribed the painkiller were female. Therefore the risks of oxycodone addiction are higher in females ( the dosages that they are prescribed are also higher compared to males). So, is there a bias? Could be. It also turns out that poorer people of color were more likely to be prescribed the medication than whites.
4) It is also seen that youngsters who like to take risks or are extremely impulsive – or troubled – are more likely to use Oxycodone along with other addictive substances like alcohol, meth, molly, cannabis, etc.
5) As it is a prescription drug, keep it out of reach. Lock it in a cabinet. In many instances, children who fall prey to the drug have a family member using the drug. The risks of addiction and misuse are higher in families that have one member using the drug.
6) It has also been observed that there is a connection between Oxycodone addiction and genetics. A prior history of substance abuse and a family history of substance abuse are red flags for drug abuse and addiction.
Signs and symptoms of Oxycodone addiction: Don’t be oblivious to the risks
There are three ways a person could be addicted:
· It is prescribed for legitimate use but is being overused.
· Secondly, it is used without a prescription. It could be stolen or obtained illegally.
· Lastly, it is being consumed in a way that the doctor has not prescribed such as with alcohol.
Hence, in either of the three cases the drug is being misused. And that could lead to addiction. If there is someone who displays the following signs of addiction, be sure to take them to the doctor.
The most visible symptoms are medications missing from the cabinet. If your medications have been going missing from time to time – take it as a wake-up call. Check out the signs of oxycodone use. The most evident sign is a visibly altered appearance in the person misusing it.
There could also be other signs such as slurred speech, excessive sleepiness, eyes lacking focus – constricted pupils, lack of coordination between the brain and different parts of the body, sloth, unexplained changes in appetite (lack of appetite generally), etc.
The cognitive symptoms though harder to detect also become evident over some time. These include deterioration in mental health, inability to concentrate, lack of interest in all activities, etc. Lastly, once the addiction takes hold, the entire personality of the individual changes. They become reserved and are prone to mood swings, and anger, and could also turn violent. Anxiety and paranoid behavior are also common
Effect of oxycodone addiction: Social, economic, and physiological
The effects of oxycodone addiction are severe. Several people on the streets have been rendered homeless due to addiction. Promising youngsters have lost their lives, their careers, and their families to oxycodone. If we were to count the economic and social ramifications of oxycodone addiction – it is severe.
You lose your job, you are forced to drop out from college and school, your family loses the trust that they had in you, you are hated by your kids and family, and your spouse might apply for divorce. And if that loss of face, and reputation was not enough, you could also be arrested or incarcerated.
Apart from the severe social and economic impact of oxycodone addiction, the physical ramifications are just as drastic and damaging. You could lose weight, be bruised easily, suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions, etc. Addiction also damages vital body organs such as the kidney, the heart, and liver and you might have to undergo intense opioid treatment programs to clean your system.
Comorbid conditions: highly likely!
Some of the comorbid conditions that could exist with oxycodone addiction are anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. It is also seen that people with PTSD trauma and ADHD are more likely to abuse painkillers
Oxycodone Withdrawal Symptoms are both short-term and long-term
While detoxing from oxycodone is necessary, doing it cold turkey can have unpleasant and often damaging side effects. Hence, one is required to enroll at a rehabilitation center. Some of the most common symptoms of withdrawal include – increased cravings, nausea, vomiting, pain, muscle cramps, high temperature, confusion, anxiety, headaches, and breathing problems.
While the above are short-term withdrawal symptoms, the long-term symptoms are more psychological such as sudden cravings, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness long after you have completed the detoxification program. It is therefore recommended to stay in touch with the therapist and the opioid treatment /rehabilitation center.
Detoxing cold turkey is strictly forbidden due to overdosing risks
Some of these symptoms are so severe that a person could end up resuming the use of oxycodone to find relief and find themselves overdosing and even risking untimely death. Following an overdose, the person could have bluish or clammy skin and breathing problems – they could also become unconscious. Following such a situation, it is necessary to call 911 or the medical responders for opioid treatment.
Recovery: Finding help for opioid and oxycodone treatment
Those who have been abusing drugs or alcohol for any period almost always undergo some degree of withdrawal upon abrupt cessation of use. More often than not, the symptoms of withdrawal will lead a person back to substance use before the detoxification process is over. This is part of the reason why entering into an inpatient oxycodone detox program is so important. Medical providers warn that at-home detox kits are not ideal for oxycodone detox as these amplify the risk of relapse, health complications, and death.
So, if you want to know about the best opioid treatment centers where oxycodone withdrawal symptoms or Percocet withdrawal symptoms are managed with proper opioid use disorder medication, reach us out today.
Whether it is Percocet withdrawal or opioid treatment for addiction and misuse, we can help you find the best place suited for your recovery. Do not wait any more, reach out to thereahabsupport.com or call us at 949.325.7994
