OxyContin Help
The very component of OxyContin that made it such a popular choice for physicians to give to patients suffering from extreme pain was also the very component that made its use so popular in the illegal drug community. The time-released component of OxyContin enabled patients to take few pills to maintain a level of pain relief that previously would have required multiple doses. However, when snorted or injected into the blood stream, addicts quickly received a sensation that was far greater than the sensation with other methods of use.
Since OxyContin was introduced in 1995, every demographic group has experienced abuse as noted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It states that use of OxyContin by 12th graders is up 40 percent nationwide in just three years and the incidence of OxyContin use is more than five times that of the other popular teen drug, methamphetamine.
The Office of National Drug Control policy noted that abuse in Maine, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia first brought OxyContin abuse to national attention. It also noted that the greatest concentration of the abuse of this drug continues to occur in those states but is fast approaching other regions, particularly the East Coast.
How OxyContin Works
Because of its potential for abuse, OxyContin is a Schedule II controlled substance, under the legal control of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Categorized as an agonist opiod, OxyContin is one of the most effective pain relievers available. However, unlike other pain relievers, an opiod agonist has an increasing pain relieving effect with increased doses. So the more you take, the less the pain, which makes it very effective in treating severe pain. Overuse however can lead to a need for OxyContin treatment help as it’s easy to become addicted to it.
Signs of OxyContin Abuse
For an addict, obtaining OxyContin is an expensive enterprise. A 40 mg tablet of OxyContin by prescription costs approximately $4 or $400 for a 100-tablet bottle in a retail pharmacy. Street prices vary depending on geographic location, but generally OxyContin sells for between 50 cents to $1 per milligram. Thus, the same 100-tablet bottle purchased for $400 at a retail pharmacy can sell for $2,000 to $4,000 illegally.
Even at these extreme prices, abuse of OxyContin is on the rise. Common signs of abuse include:
- Taking OxyContin after pain management has been achieved
- Increasing the dosage of OxyContin without medical recommendation
- Acquiring OxyContin through illegal means
- Repeated, compulsive use of OxyContin for no medical reason
Get Help for OxyContin Addiction
Identifying someone with a prescription drug addiction, who need OxyContin detox, is difficult to do, especially if the person is a family member or friend. However, it is possible and we can help. Please call our toll free number today at (866) 872-6490. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have about OxyContin addiction treatment. We are here to help. (Watch this OxyContin video.)
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