Why do people abuse oxycontin

OxyContin and heroin have similar effects; therefore, both drugs are attractive to the same abuser population. OxyContin is sometimes referred to as "poor man's heroin," despite the high price it commands at the street level. OxyContin is, however, relatively inexpensive for those covered by health insurance, since the insurance provider covers most costs associated with doctor visits and the prescription.

Unfortunately, many OxyContin abusers whose health insurance will no longer pay for prescriptions and who cannot afford the high street-level prices are attracted to heroin.

For example, in West Virginia the availability of lower cost heroin is attracting many OxyContin abusers who have never used heroin. Sometimes, a medication drug treatment will be employed to ease the withdrawal symptoms. At Turning Point, we believe that teens suffering from withdrawal need to learn the coping mechanisms necessary for preventing relapse. This can be best achieved through a long-term, residential treatment program.

In order for Oxycontin addiction rehab to be successful, both the physical and psychological addiction should be addressed in tandem. With group and one-on-one counseling, behavioral therapy, and adherence to step meetings, a young adult can truly conquer an Oxycodone addiction. Please call for more information on Oxycontin addiction treatment for young men. Skip to content. The preeminent addiction treatment program for young men and women Turnbridge operates leading mental health and substance abuse treatment programs throughout Connecticut.

Warning Signs of Oxycontin Abuse Oxycontin is often assumed a safe and effective pain reliever, as it produces very few severe side effects: nausea, constipation, and dizziness can accompany frequent use. Previous: Marijuana Addiction in Young Adults. It may also be prescribed to cancer patients to help decrease pain and improve function.

People who misuse OxyContin use the medicine in amounts or ways that are not prescribed or intended. They can either crush the tablet and ingest or snort it, or they dilute it in water and inject it.

Crushing or diluting the tablet disarms the timed-release action of the medication, but crushing OxyContin in this way can give the user a potentially fatal dose. The drugmaker, Purdue Pharma LP, made changes so that breaking up the tablet does not immediately release oxycodone. Also, if someone attempts to dissolve these new tablets for syringe injection, the liquid becomes gummy.

Despite these measures, the FDA continues to admit that abuse and misuse of OxyContin remain possible. Further, there is an increase in OxyContin abusers who are turning to heroin because it is a significantly lower-cost opioid.

Some of the street names for OxyContin include Oxy, O. It is frequently mispronounced and misspelled as "oxycotton. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Under the prescribed dosage, OxyContin is an effective pain reliever. When crushed and snorted or injected, the drug produces a quick and powerful "high" that some abusers compare to the feeling they get when doing heroin.

OxyContin, like heroin and other opioids, is a central nervous system depressant. An overdose can cause respiratory failure and death. Some symptoms of OxyContin overdose include:. If you believe someone has taken an overdose of OxyContin, call immediately. Narcan naloxone hydrochloride is an emergency medication designed to counteract an opioid overdose. First-responders can use it to revive someone if they can reach them soon enough.

Learn about the NIH-sponsored clinical trials available to you. National Institutes of Health. Drug Topics. More Drug Topics. Quick Links. About NIDA. Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose significantly from 46, deaths in to 49, in Looking for Treatment? Summary of Issue All opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain.