Oxycodone Addiction Symptoms - Traditional Outpatient Treatment Services

Oxycodone is a powerful and addictive pain-killing drug. It’s one of the most frequently abused prescription drugs in the United States. Many people who become addicted to Oxycodone begin by taking the amount of the drug prescribed to them by a doctor. As they develop a tolerance for the drug, they need to take higher doses of it to obtain the same level of pain relief. So, they start abusing the drug by taking higher amounts than prescribed. Other people start by taking the drug recreationally to get the euphoric high effect. They soon find they need to take more and more of it to achieve the same sensation.

Recognizing that you or someone you know is struggling with an Oxycodone addiction can be life-saving. Oxycodone abuse over an extended period can lead to ruinous consequences for a person’s health, safety, career, personal relationships, and financial future.

We encourage you to contact us anytime you’re ready to learn how we can help you make the change to a new life free from the pain of Oxycodone drug addiction.

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What is Oxycodone?

Oxycodone is an opioid drug. It is the primary agent in a number of pain-killing prescription drugs administered to people suffering with pain from moderate to severe levels. The drug may be in liquid form or in pills of different sizes, shapes, and colors. It may be prescribed for use along with other painkillers, such as Aspirin, Acetaminophen, or Ibuprofen.

Oxycodone is produced by altering Thebaine, which is an organic chemical in Opium. So, Oxycodone is an Opioid (or may be made as a synthetic Opiate). Oxycodone is in the same general drug class as Hydrocodone, Heroin, and Oxymorphone. It’s a Schedule II drug, per the Controlled Substances Act, which means that it has a medical purpose but users are at high risk for abuse.

How Long Does It Take To Get Addicted to Oxycodone?

This very powerful drug provides much-needed pain relief to many people coping with extremely painful and sometimes terminal injuries or health conditions. However, its highly addictive properties make it very difficult for many people to avoid the crossover from Oxycodone use – to abuse – to addiction. That process of decline into addiction can happen very quickly, within just a couple of weeks, which grossly endangers the user of this and other exceptionally strong opioid drugs.

Types of Oxycodone

Some commonly used Oxycodone-based drugs are:

OxyContin OxyContin is one of the country's most frequently abused prescription drugs. People abusing the drug often crush and snort it or dissolve and inject it, to override its time-release properties and rapidly obtain the full sensation of the drug high.
Percocet Percocet is Oxycodone and Acetaminophen combined. It is frequently prescribed for pain relief due to many types of medical conditions. People abusing Percocet often chew it, crush and snort it, or inject it.
Roxicodone Roxicodone is a fast-release Oxycodone formula prescribed for moderate to severe pain and often administered prior to surgery to help calm or sedate patients. It’s also used for continuous pain management. People abusing Roxicodone often crush and smoke the tablets or melt and inject them to rapidly obtain a high sensation.

Is Oxycodone Addictive?

Oxycodone-based painkillers are often prescribed for patients with severe conditions like cancer or debilitating arthritis. Or, they may be recovering from surgery or extreme injury. Oxycodone is used to deliver potent and continuous pain relief for those people.

Addiction often develops when patients take more of the drug than the prescribed amounts or use it beyond the prescribed time frame. People buying the drug from street sources and using methods of consuming the drug to expedite the high sensation, putting them at risk of becoming addicted. (Street names for Oxycodone include: Oxy, Percs, Roxis, OCs, Oxycet, Hillbilly Heroin, among others.)

Oycodone’s appealing effects are very similar to those from Heroin, including:

  • Anxiety relief
  • Extreme euphoria
  • Deep relaxation
  • Heightened confidence
  • Drowsiness

Oxycodone Addiction Signs and Symptoms

Oxycodone delivers feelings of extreme euphoria for people feeling high from the drug. But, oxycodone addiction leaves the individual in this miserable set of circumstances:

  • Needing more and more Oxycodone to obtain the same high
  • Having extreme cravings for the drug that distract from all else
  • Having withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit using the drug
  • Needing the drug just to feel well
  • Using Oxycodone is the top priority in the person’s life
  • Buying Oxycodone even when the person cannot afford it financially
  • Risking harm to oneself and others while high on the drug
  • Deteriorated health due to abuse of the drug
  • Damaged relationships with family and friends

When individuals are struggling with Oxycodone addiction, they are likely to need medically assisted detox followed by an effective substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program. Oxycodone Addiction Treatment can help them overcome the sense of need to use the drug and help prevent relapse.

Oxycodone Side Effects

Side effects of continued Oxycodone abuse can include these serious health consequences, among others:

  • Mood changes
  • Dry mouth
  • Stomach pain
  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea
  • Vomitting
  • Headache
  • Skin flushing
  • Cardiovascular issues

Distinguishing Use from Abuse of Oxycodone

In the past decade, OxyContin sales by Purdue Pharma soared to over $6 billion per year in the United States. The drug is widely prescribed for pain relief. Therefore, it is identified as an acceptable medication by families and friends of people using the drug. That status of the drug can sometimes make it confusing to recognize Oxycodone abuse or addiction.

Identifying Oxycodone abuse becomes a question of how the use of the drug affects the user's regular daily life. Unusual negative behavioral, financial, and social consequences of taking the drug can be helpful indicators of drug abuse.

Help for Oxycodone Abuse, Renaissance Ranch, Ogden UT

Our Oxycodone outpatient treatment at Renaissance Ranch, Ogden Utah are designed and administered by opiod addiction recovery specialists, MDs, and a large team of other licensed medical professionals. We provide each of our clients with a comprehensive addiction recovery program customized for his or her specific needs and goals for therapy.

If you are experiencing Oxycodone addiction symptoms, we can help you take back control of your life!

Call Renaissance Ranch Ogden at (385) 222-3737 or contact us here on our website to schedule a free assessment and begin your satisfying journey to a future free from Oxy.

Affordable treatment that helps families heal and restore hope.

 

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