You hear about OxyContin in the news frequently, these days. On the street, people call the narcotic “oxy.” Specifically, this brand name version of oxycodone is a prescription painkiller, an opioid, and part of the opioid epidemic. Therefore, what is OxyContin and why do so many people fall under its spell of addiction?
What is OxyContin?
What is OxyContin exactly? In fact, OxyContin is the brand name version of one of the most popular prescription painkillers, oxycodone. Oxycodone comes from opium of the poppy plant, the same natural substance from which heroin is made. Moreover, OxyContin treats serious, chronic pain.
Doctors prescribe OxyContin for injuries, arthritis, and cancer pain. Furthermore, it’s frequently prescribed for these needs due to its time-release formula. OxyContin provides pain relief over a long period of time, for up to 12 hours per dose.
Why People Abuse OxyContin
People abuse oxycodone for the same reasons doctors prescribe it. That is, OxyContin is long lasting due to its time-release formula. Using oxycodone to get high means you stay high longer than when taking shorter-acting opioids.
Oxycodone also leads people into addiction due to its euphoric, pleasant, and relaxing high. When taking oxycodone, you feel these effects almost immediately, along with pain relief. However, many negative effects also come with taking oxycodone. For example, these ill effects include nausea, vomiting, lost appetite, and headache. You also experience lethargy, dizziness, sweating, dry mouth, itching, and confusion.
Some of the most dangerous oxycodone effects include shallow breathing, seizures, slow heart rate, severe weakness, and confusion. For those side effects, you need immediate attention from your doctor.
In fact, abusing OxyContin increases your health risks. Negative effects of oxy abuse include depression, mood swings, anxiety, nodding off, irritability, and headache. You also experience constipation, dizziness, constricted pupils, sweating, itching, and respiratory depression. Unfortunately, these negative effects do not prove convincing enough to keep people from abusing oxycodone for its high.
Maryland Help for OxyContin and Oxycodone Addiction
Understanding of oxy addiction begins with recognizing what is OxyContin and its effects. Likewise, help for OxyContin addiction begins with medical detox.
At Ashley Addiction Treatment in Havre de Grace, Maryland, onsite detox takes place before transitioning into rehab. In detox, you gain the medical care, support, and supervision you need for safe, comfortable withdrawal. When withdrawal is complete, you enter rehab where true recovery begins.
For example, addiction treatment programs include:
- Onsite detox
- Primary care
- Young adult program
- Young adult extended care program
- Relapse program
- Pain recovery
- Residential and intensive outpatient treatment
In these programs, you gain the therapies and support you need for lasting recovery. Therapies include individual, group, and family counseling. If you or someone you love suffer addiction to OxyContin, call Ashley Addiction Treatment now at 866-313-6307.