OxyContin Addiction

It can be difficult living with an OxyContin addiction. Struggling with such an addiction can be life consuming. The alcohol and drug rehab program at Cirque Lodge Is here to help. Cirque Lodge is a private and exclusive addiction treatment program in the mountains of Sundance Utah. We specialized in providing the finest experience available for prescription drug abuse and addiction. Call 1-877-99-3422, for effective addiction treatment help for you or your loved one.

OxyContin addiction is a fairly new problem facing Americans. OxyContin is a brand name for the pain reliever oxycodone hydrochloride. It is a fairly new drug which was approved by the FDA in 1995. This drug, available by prescription only, is mainly used to relieve severe, chronic pain usually associated with injuries, arthritis, bursitis and cancer. It helps relieve pain by blocking the pain messengers sent to the brain and by releasing dopamine, a chemical that the body produces to relax or cause feeling of euphoria. Because of this, OxyContin addiction is becoming more common because of its misuse. The tablets have become a favorable pain reliever because of its time-release capsules. This drug is only taken every twelve hours, instead of other pain relievers that are taken every three to six hours. Oxycodone hydrochloride is prescribed to decrease pain, and help to improve function and mobility. If you or a loved one is suffering from an abuse of this drug, please call the drug rehab program at Cirque Lodge today for immediate assistance. Our toll-free number is 1-877-997-3422.

OxyContin is Classified as an Opiod

An opioid is a class of drug that is prescribed for its pain relieving properties. Used in a prudent manner to manage pain, opioids have not been shown to cause addiction. It is when this class of drug is used beyond the prescribed doses that addiction is likely to occur.

Some of the more commonly known drugs that are classified as opioids include morphine and codeine. Morphine is a very powerful pain reliever and is typically used either before or after surgery. It is also used in terminally-ill patients to provide a level of comfort for those patients in their final stages of a disease. Codeine, though still in this same class, is a less powerful pain reliever, and is typically prescribed for milder pain management, such as after a visit to a dentist or to help relieve coughing. Other well-known opioids are Darvon, Vicodin and Demerol.

Opioids are effective for pain management because they attach to certain proteins, called opioid receptors. These receptors are found throughout the body, specifically in the brain and spinal cord. When an opioid attaches itself to the brain or in the spinal cord, it modifies the way the body responds to pain. The brain will also respond to an opioid by providing a sense of pleasure or euphoria. Since an opioid can cause drowsiness or depress breathing, overuse could lead to respiratory failure, even with a single large dose.

Survey on the Use of OxyContin

In the most recent survey conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the government estimates that 2.8 million people over the age of 12 had used OxyContin at least once. Only a year earlier this number was just under 2 million. This increase in only one year represents a significant cause for concern, especially since a number of children between the 8th and 12th grades reported using this drug within the past year. In addition, an increasing number of college students and young adults reported using OxyContin for the first time from a year previous.

OxyContin Abuse

Abuse of OxyContin occurs when the drug is taken in any other way than as prescribed. Because of OxyContin's time-release capsule, it contains a higher dose of oxycodone hydrochloride. By abusing this drug, the body develops a tolerance to its affects. The individual soon needs to take more and more OxyContin to get the pleasurable feeling that one or two doses previously provided to relieve the pain. This practice of prescription drug abuse can lead to addiction.

Abuse is taking the drug to get high. Problems occur when the capsule is chewed or crushed, which destroys the time-release feature. The effects create a euphoric high. Abuse usually happens as a result of misuse and leads to need OxyContin addiction treatment.

OxyContin Addiction

OxyContin dependence occurs when the prescription drug is abused. An individual may be addicted to this drug if the pain is gone, yet he/she may still seek for the medication. The body yearns to have the pleasurable affects of the drug. It soon becomes an obsession that consumes an individual's mind and body. We invite you to find OxyContin addiction recovery. Addiction can occur when an OxyContin pill is crushed and snorted or injected into the body. The effects are similar to those of heroin. The pain messengers to the brain are blocked. Also the amount of dopamine is increased, causing feelings of pleasure and euphoria.

On the street, OxyContin is also referred to as "Oxycotton," "O.C.," "Killer," and "Hillbilly Heroin". OxyContin, if taken as prescribed, will not usually cause addiction. A dependence develops mostly in individuals who are already addicts of other kinds of drugs. These individuals usually seek out the drug to obtain the spectacular high when it is crushed. OxyContin addiction can be accompanied by physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance. The sudden absence of OxyContin in the body of an addict can lead to signs of withdrawal, including anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, vomiting, and severe stomach cramps.

Individuals who take large doses of OxyContin are at risk of developing respiratory depression, which can lead to death. OxyContin can also be proved fatal if abused with any other chemical substance, including alcohol. A major concern with OxyContin abuse is for new users of the drug. If an individual’s body has not built up a tolerance to the oxycodone hydrochloride, and the drug is abused by crushing, snorting, or injecting, OxyContin can prove to be fatal.

Treatment for OxyContin Addiction

The addiction and abuse of OxyContin is a serious matter that should be handled within a treatment center such as Cirque Lodge. With a physical dependency to oxycodone hydrochloride, the body becomes tolerant by needing this chemical to function and sometimes even to survive. This chemical dependency, however, is physically damaging the body. OxyContin rehab is mandatory for help with this chemical dependency.

There are certain drugs that can be used to treat a dependence to OxyContin. One of these includes Methadone, which is a synthetic opioid that can block the effects of other opioids, and can reduce or eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is also a synthetic opioid which produces similar effects. Naltrexone is used in treatment programs and is effective in preventing relapse. Many prescription drug abuse and addiction programs can subscribe to replacement treatment with these medications.

For individuals and/or families that are concerned about OxyContin abuse, Cirque Lodge offers a personalized drug treatment plan. Upon admittance, an individual receives a comprehensive assessment to allow the treatment staff at Cirque Lodge to fully understand the needs of that individual. The treatment staff at Cirque Lodge will then develop a OxyContin addiction program that is individualized to best help the resident on their road to recovery.

Cirque Lodge, located in Sundance Utah, provides the best opportunity for a long-term recovery. For more information about OxyContin addiction, please call Cirque Lodge at 1-877-997-3422. A similar form of prescription drug abuse and addiction to OxyContin is Perocet. For Percocet problems, vist our Prescription Drug Abuse page.