It is a story heard time and time again in rehab centers and among drug users. Someone begins taking a prescription for pain and gets hooked on it. This is true for many who take oxycontin and then find themselves unwillingly needing it long after the physical ailment it was prescribed for has gone away. The fact is, most prescribed drugs do come with the risk of addiction, which is why it is important that a physician monitor his patient during treatment.
The fact is, most prescribed drugs do come with the risk of addiction, which is why it is important that a physician monitor his patient during treatment.
What causes addiction to oxycontin?
Simply put, it is the fact that the body has built up a need for the drug in such a way that once the reason for its use has been discarded or remedied, the body still longs for the drug itself. It feeds on the mind telling a person that he or she still needs the drug; perhaps even leading him to believe he isn’t healed of the original ailment so that he can still take it. This is a Catch 22 in the patient’s body.
Research and studies show that addiction to a prescription drug such as oxycontin is a condition that needs the help of professionals such as doctors, counselors and therapists to help the patient win out over the addiction. Because the onset came from a very real pain, it can be harder to deal with a person who is addicted to oxycontin because he is likely to be in denial over it, especially if he has never had a problem with drug or substance abuse before.
Help for an oxycontin addict:
If you find yourself relying heavily upon oxycontin, listen to your friends and family; you have quite probably become addicted without meaning to. While this may be hard to understand, you can be helped; you can overcome the effects of oxycontin addiction. An open, honest conversation with your doctor with family by your side can be the best thing you can do for yourself and your family at this point. Prescription medication can become an addiction, it is part of why they are controlled substances to begin with. So take a deep breath and understand that your physician and your family have your best interests at heart and together you can win out over the addiction.
There is no shame in asking for help and there are great rewards down the road when you stand up against your craving for oxycontin. You won out over the original pain; you can do the same with the addiction. It can be stopped.
Why is this medication prescribed?
Oxycodone is used to relieve moderate to moderate-to-severe pain. It also is used to relieve postpartum, postoperative, and dental pain.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should this medicine be used?
Oxycodone comes as a liquid and tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken every 6 hours as needed; extended-release (long-acting) tablets usually are taken every 12 hours as indicated in findrxonline in his article about the medicine. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take oxycodone exactly as directed.
Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush extended-release oxycodone tablets.
Oxycodone can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer period than your doctor tells you to. If you have been taking oxycodone for more than a few weeks, do not stop taking oxycodone suddenly. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually.
The opioids narcotics are effective for diseases such as chronic pain partially solved, medicines like Vicodin, Lortab, oxycontin, Lorcet are widely used in USA and Europe for medical specialists according to findrxonline the percentage of use of these drugs is very high in this part of the continent.
Hi Nick Hayes,
Not sure if you’re familiar with Current TV’s documentary series called Vanguard, but I thought you might be interested in this: http://current.com/vanguard-journalism/
We are premiering season 3 of Vanguard on Wednesday, October 14 10/9c on Current TV. The premiere episode is titled “The OxyContin Express” and in it our Vanguard correspondent Mariana Van Zeller travels to Florida to investigate pain pill centers, discuss addiction with families that have been impacted by this rising trend, and get details from Sheriffs and Law Enforcement agents working in this environment.
As a bonus, Mariana is going to be answering questions submitted by just about anyone interested in the subject, Vanguard, or journalism in general. You can find more info here: http://blogs.current.com/currentdotcom/2009/10/13/vanguards-mariana-van-zeller-interviewed-by-you/
Thanks for posting about Oxy addiction, and let me know if you have any questions!
Mario
Current.com