Is OxyContin Addiction a Disease?
Addiction is often viewed as a character flaw or moral failure. Advances in brain imaging, however, have verified a biological basis for the drug cravings that drive addictive behavior. Although there is certainly an element of will and choice involved in the addictive process, OxyContin addiction is indeed a physical disease.
OxyContin-Related Brain Changes
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that addiction is a disease because it disrupts the functioning of an organ (the brain). They note that brains addicted to drugs show alterations in areas relating to behavior control, judgment, learning, memory, and making decisions. This brain damage can fuel further drug abuse.
Drugs like OxyContin affect the brain in many ways. They generally mimic brain chemicals or otherwise fool the brain into altering neurotransmitter levels. Generally, drugs of abuse flood the system with dopamine, which is part of the brain’s reward system. The amount of dopamine released when some drugs are taken is vastly more (up to 10 times as much) as what occurs with natural rewards. This powerful activation of the reward system trains people to repeat the behavior.
Although some brain changes are caused by the drug itself, others are caused by the body’s attempt to restore balance. As the brain continues to be flooded with dopamine, the body reacts by producing less or by altering receptors to be less sensitive. As a result, larger amounts of the drug must be taken to achieve previous effects. This is known as drug tolerance. Eventually people who abuse OxyContin find that it no longer produces feelings of pleasure. In fact, the brain eventually adapts to the point that it considers the presence of the drug to be normal, and users must take it simply to avoid withdrawal symptoms. When the drug is not in a user’s system, the brain believes itself to be in a state of deprivation.
NIDA defines addiction as a chronic, relapsing brain disease. They also designate it a developmental disease which often begins in childhood or adolescence and affects the brain as it develops and grows. They compare addiction to other conditions such as heart disease, and note that both conditions, in addition to their serious consequences, are preventable and treatable, but that if left untreated can last a lifetime.
OxyContin Addiction and Genetic Factors
As with many other diseases, drug addiction seems to have a genetic component. If a family member is addicted to one drug, it increases the susceptibility of family members to addiction not only to that drug but to other addictive substances or behaviors. Regardless of family history, anyone can develop an addiction and no one is immune to OxyContin’s effects.
OxyContin Addiction Can Be Treated
OxyContin addiction can be treated, and we can help you find a rehab program that meets your needs. Call our 24 hour, toll-free helpline and let us answer your questions and check your insurance coverage. We’re available around the clock. OxyContin addiction is a treatable disease, so take the first step toward recovery today.
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