While Oxycodone may have been safer and fewer people may have wanted to get high, it was also more difficult to get a prescription to obtain the drug in the first place. Heroin is a common substitute because it’s cheaper and easier to find. This switch makes overdose, infection, and legal trouble more likely.

  • No matter how you feel right now, know that it is possible to overcome oxycodone addiction.
  • The risk increases when Oxycontin is used with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants.
  • To ensure effective addiction treatment, it is recommended that individuals consider a combination of these therapies.
  • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, 2020), this surge in dopamine not only creates the high but also reinforces drug-taking behavior, making misuse highly addictive.
  • Methadone prevents Oxycontin withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings.
  • Start your recovery journey with peace of mind, knowing your care is covered.

What are the behavioral symptoms of oxycodone addiction?

How Addictive Is OxyContin

It may focus on managing your withdrawal symptoms or addressing physical and mental dependence. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates OxyContin as a prescription medication primarily intended for managing severe, chronic pain that requires long-term opioid treatment. OxyContin is used for managing chronic, severe pain, while Percocet is prescribed for acute, moderate-to-severe pain. The acetaminophen content in Percocet also presents additional risks, such as liver damage, especially when taken in high doses or with alcohol. Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.

  • This can include going to work or school, spending time with family and friends and participating in hobbies.
  • Furthermore, the activation of ERK induces the phosphorylation of various transcription factors, including CREB, which regulates genes and protein expression involved in addictive processes.
  • While the opiates morphine and codeine come directly from opium, thebaine undergoes additional chemical modifications to produce oxycodone and other semi-synthetic opioids like oxymorphone and naloxone.
  • It is designed to make this challenging time easier and help you avoid an oxycodone relapse.

NIDA supports research on opioids and the overdose crisis

How Addictive Is OxyContin

Medically-supervised detox also helps you avoid relapsing back to opioid use when withdrawal symptoms become too difficult. Yes, OxyContin is legal when prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider for legitimate medical use. It is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance under the U.S. When taken as prescribed, OxyContin releases oxycodone slowly over time, providing consistent pain relief without significant euphoric effects. The withdrawal symptoms of OxyContin encompass a wide range of physical and psychological effects, such as anxiety, restlessness, sweating, insomnia, and diarrhea, caused by the body’s dependence on the drug. OxyContin withdrawal refers to the physical and psychological symptoms that occur when someone dependent on the drug abruptly reduces or stops its use.

Symptoms of Oxycodone Abuse

How Addictive Is OxyContin

Depending on the person, an OxyContin addiction can take different amounts of time to develop. This is because addiction is more than just getting high from a drug or becoming physically dependent on it. Addiction is a complicated psychosocial phenomenon where a person compulsively takes OxyContin despite being aware of its harmful consequences on their life. For some people, this might mean an addiction takes hold after a few days, weeks or months.

How Addictive Is OxyContin

Prescription Medications and Illicit Drugs

Based on these findings, it could be suggested that oxycodone and heroin have a stronger potential for abuse than morphine, and some rats may develop behavior that can be described as compulsive. In a recent study (121) we compared the effects of morphine, heroin and oxycodone using the LgA model of intravenous administration. In this experiment, self-administration trials were conducted 5 days per week, and a total of 22 sessions were performed. All three opioids resulted in the development a self-administration behavior in the rats.

How Addictive Is OxyContin

However, because cravings for opioids can be so intense, withdrawal may occur when you attempt to stop using OxyContin abruptly, which prompts you to keep using. Withdrawal and the inability to stop using the drug are warning signs that you may be addicted to OxyContin. A classic sign of drug abuse is secrecy if you hide the amount and frequency of use. It’s not uncommon to misuse opiates to obtain multiple prescriptions at one time; you will usually take more than prescribed or run out of the prescription before the refill date. Over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, are effective for managing mild to moderate pain.

Addiction Treatment Should Focus on Individuals, Not Drugs of Choice

  • The withdrawal timeline for OxyContin occurs in distinct phases, reflecting the body’s gradual adaptation to the absence of the drug.
  • That may be one reason that some people can use drugs occasionally without becoming addicted.
  • Unlike other prescription painkillers, OxyContin is not intended for as-needed pain relief.
  • Outpatient treatment is more flexible, allowing individuals to live at home while attending therapy and counseling sessions.

Immediate-release oxycodone tablets such as Roxicodone typically provide pain relief for 4–6 hours. Extended-release versions such as OxyContin offer pain relief for an extended period Sober living home of time (around 12 hours per dose). With continued use and development of tolerance, addicted individuals often take oxycodone more frequently than prescribed. Oxycodone is legally available by prescription in oral pill or liquid form for pain relief. You’ve probably heard of some popular brands of oxycodone such as OxyContin or Roxicodone.

Oxycodone is a powerful pain reliever that interacts with the parts of the brain responsible for regulating breathing, heart rate, digestion, and other vital functions. By clicking “Submit,” you certify that you have provided your legal name and phone number, agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy, and authorise Paid Advertiser to contact you. You consent to receive SMS notifications and promotions from Paid Advertiser. Addiction Resource team has compiled an extensive list of the top drug rehabilitation facilities around the country. Symptoms of OxyContin abuse can be mistaken for a typical hangover if one is unfamiliar with the signs.