One of the leading causes of overdoses in the United States today is from oxycodone addiction. Prescription medications like opiates, amphetamines and benzodiazepines are abused regularly and the medications can be fatal. The most popular of the medications comes in the form of opiates or opioids. Opiates come straight from opium plants, and opioids are the synthetic form of the drug, but they act similarly.
Opiates and opioids can come in many forms, but some of the most popular ones include:
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone
- Morphine
- Fentanyl
- Oxycodone
Where Does an Oxycodone Addiction Begin?
There are two different ways in which people develop an oxycodone addiction, and the first is from a prescription. Doctors prescribe pain medications with the best intentions, which is to help people who are in pain. The medications act by attaching to pain receptors in the brain and block pain that the person is experiencing. When a person is in pain, these medications work great.
The problem is that these medications also trigger a euphoric feeling and release dopamine in the system. Dopamine is a natural chemical in the body that gives a person the feeling of pleasure, and it can be addictive. For some people, this effect happens almost immediately and the person wants more of that feeling. Other people are using the medication to block pain at first, but a tolerance and dependence leads to addiction.
This type of addiction from prescriptions is most common when people go on a pain management plan. This means that the person refills the prescription every month for months at a time. Their body never learns how to deal with the pain without the medication. Eventually, the brain intensifies the pain so the person believes they must have the medication.
Oxycodone Addiction – Recreational Use
There are many people who develop a pain pill addiction just because they were looking for a new high. This is very common among young people as well as people who already have an addiction to alcohol. The person may have come across oxycodone and found that this was the type of high that they liked the most. This leads to the person stealing the medication from friends or family, or buying the medication illegally.
Many people who struggle with alcoholism switch to prescription pain medications like oxycodone. Someone with alcoholism may believe that taking pain medications like oxycodone is safer than abusing alcohol. The person may see that not having a hangover or smelling like alcohol means they can hide it better as well. The problem is that many people begin mixing the medications with alcohol, and this can be very dangerous.
Oxycodone Addiction Can Take Control of Your Life
Eventually, it gets to a point where a person has completely lost control over their prescription painkiller addiction. The person will begin harming relationships with friends and family, and they may have problems at work. Due to the obsession to keep using these medications, the person can lose sight of what really matters in their life. There are also those who develop such a strong dependency that they keep using to avoid withdrawal.
Steps to Recovery is here to help you and your loved ones heal from the difficult situation that is addiction. We offer a small, intimate environment where our clients get the care and attention they need from our staff. We’re a 12-step program based treatment. We are a facility that caters to men, women as well as the LGBTQ community. Don’t hesitate to call us to begin your steps to recovery. The number is 267.719.8528.
