Addiction to OxyContin can damage not only a person’s health, but also every area of that person’s life and relationships. While OxyContin treats pain when used as directed by a doctor, it can have disastrous consequences when it is abused. Abusers of OxyContin can develop a physical dependence while believing that the drug is necessary to function. Consuming more of it becomes the greatest factor, to the detriment of everything else.
OxyContin abuse can harm a user’s physical health, frequently resulting in side effects, and can be deadly if it is combined with alcohol or other narcotics. Because users of OxyContin will begin to develop a tolerance to it, requiring increasingly greater doses in order to achieve the desired effect, overdose is a significant threat. OxyContin affects the area of the brain that controls respiration, so an overdose can cause the person to stop breathing which can lead to death. Since OxyContin addiction is accompanied by physical dependence, painful withdrawal symptoms will arise when someone tries to stop taking it. These withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to overcome.
Not only is OxyContin harmful to a person’s physical health, it can also damage one’s psychological and emotional health. Because it works by affecting the chemicals in the brain, the brain will begin to grow accustomed to its presence and alter its function to incorporate the OxyContin. This can cause extreme mood swings, and in particular feelings of depression or anxiety. Mental disorders can develop due to the altered brain chemicals. The longer an addiction lasts, the greater its effects on the mind, so it is important to get treatment as soon as possible.
While every person’s addiction is different, it is likely that OxyContin addiction will begin to have an impact on every area of a user’s life, as well as those who come in contact with him or her. Family relationships in particular can be damaged, sometimes irreparably, and children of addicts can be scarred both emotionally and socially. The addiction can likely cause problems at a person’s work due to absenteeism and decreased productivity. OxyContin addiction can cause a person to behave in uncharacteristic ways, often lying or stealing in order to possess the drug. This can sometimes result in problems with the law or homelessness.
However, there is hope for someone dealing with OxyContin addiction. With the right plan of rehab treatment, a person can not only get clean from OxyContin, but also be equipped to remain that way for a lifetime. When the treatment is comprehensive and individualized, success can be a reality. The treatment may even be covered by your health insurance, so there’s no reason to wait to begin the process of recovery.
Are you trying to get free from the hold that OxyContin has on your life? Please let us help you get your life back. Our toll-free helpline is operated 24 hours day, so call today and talk to one of our trained counselors.