OxyContin Addiction:  Information and Treatment

Do you have a problem with OxyContin?

The Walid-Robinson Opioid-Dependence (WROD) Questionnaire is based on the World Health Organization and the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders clinical guidelines for a diagnosis of "dependence."

1. Do you often want to keep taking your opioid medication (you have cravings)?
2. Do you experience lengthy periods of use or binge patterns of use?
3. Do you have tremors, and use substances to relieve withdrawal symptoms?
4. Are you able to take more drug without easing the pain?
5. Do you neglect food, hygiene or health care?
6. Do you want to continue use the drug despite knowledge of problems caused or exacerbated by it?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, then please keep reading for further information.

What is OxyContin and How is it Abused?

"Those who abuse OxyContin reportedly go to great lengths—legal or illegal—to obtain the powerful drug."  – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

What is OxyContin?

OxyContin is a time-released version of oxycodone produced by the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma.  It was first introduced to the U.S. market in 1996.  It's often prescribed for cancer patients or those with chronic back pain.

Its active ingredient is oxycodone, which is also used in medications such as Percodan or Tylox.  The crucial issue however, is OxyContin's potency – while Percodan and Tylox contain 5mg of oxycodone, OxyContin contains between 10 and 80mg in one tablet!   

How is OxyContin Abused?

People who abuse OxyContin either crush the pill and ingest it orally, snort it, or dilute it in water and inject it.  Crushing/diluting the tablet removes the time release action, causing a rapid onset and a strong "high."

OxyContin Abuse:  A Serious Problem in the U.S.

Statistics Regarding OxyContin Abuse

Data shows that OxyContin has become a significant drug of abuse in the United States.  And that abuse continues to grow.

• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, misuse of OxyContin among people in the United States ages 12 and older significantly increased every year from 2002 to 2006.
• Data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) emergency department system shows that misuse of oxycodone (the main ingredient in OxyContin) rose 152 percent between 2004 and 2008, to more than 105,000 emergency room visits.
• In 2006, approximately 4 million people 12 and up reported using OxyContin for non-medical uses at least once in their lifetime, and more than 500,000 were new non-medical users.
• By 2001, OxyContin was the best-selling non-generic narcotic pain reliever in the U.S.
• An analysis of data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration found that retail sales of oxycodone "jumped nearly six-fold between 1997 and 2005."
• 2008 sales of OxyContin in the U.S. totaled $2.5 billion.

Short and Long-Term Effects of OxyContin Addiction

Short-term Effects of OxyContin Abuse

Soon after administration, OxyContin can cause a "rush" or euphoric high, as well as sedation.  Nausea, vomiting, sweating and weakness can also occur.  Overdoses can happen when users remove the time-release coating.  Effects can last up to 5 or more hours, depending on how much is ingested.

Long-Term Effects of OxyContin Abuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns, "With prolonged use of opiates and opioids, individuals become tolerant and may require larger doses, and can become physically dependent on the drugs."

One of the most detrimental long-term effects of OxyContin abuse is addiction itself.  Addiction is a chronic disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite negative consequences, and by changes in the brain.  OxyContin produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, which contribute heavily to abuse.  Painful withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. 

If OxyContin is being injected, the user is at risk for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, as well as infections and abscesses and acute heart and lung problems.  Those who smoke OxyContin can suffer lung damage.  Those who snort the drug long-term can suffer damage to the sinuses, nasal membrane and throat.

Treatment for OxyContin Addiction

Rehab Programs for OxyContin Addiction

Support Systems Homes provides several treatment options for OxyContin addiction.  Depending on the severity of addiction, we may recommend several of the treatments listed here.

Detoxification:
Like most abused drugs, OxyContin creates a physical dependence.  When use is discontinued, painful and sometimes-dangerous withdrawal can occur.

Detoxification helps you clean the drug out of your system.  Our staff of nurses and doctors monitors you for withdrawal symptoms in one of our rehab centers. 

Support Systems Homes detox staff will helps you manage cravings, get through withdrawal, and link you to a longer-term rehab program, such as residential treatment. 

* For opiate abusers, medications containing buprenorphine (i.e. Subutex and Suboxone) can be used in order to mitigate withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process.

Residential Treatment (Residential Drug Rehab):
Residential Treatment participants leave their homes to live in a safe, supervised setting for 30 days or more.  In a structured setting, you can focus completely on recovering from their addiction.  Participants receive drug education, individual counseling, group counseling, family counseling, introduction to community-based self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, and referrals to community resources.  You'll develop a plan to help achieve and maintain long-term abstinence. 

Residential treatment also offers the chance to form support networks with others in recovery, and to learn about making healthy lifestyle choices (nutrition, exercise).

Outpatient Treatment:
More intensive treatment options may be followed by outpatient treatment.  Regular, structured therapeutic group/individual counseling several days per week, usually for several months.  Outpatient participants are stable in terms of drug use – those who are appropriate for a level of care that isn't monitored or structured 24/7.

Helping Families and Friends

Because the support of family and friends is so crucial to the recovery process, many Support Systems Homes programs also offer a family program as part of treatment.  It's important for family members and loved ones to begin their own healing process.  Our treatment center-based family programs can help with this, as can community-based programs such as Nar-Anon.

Maintaining Sobriety Over the Long-Term

Community-Based Self-Help Groups:
Groups such as Pills Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, along with non-12 step based programs, are designed to help addicts attain long-term abstinence.  They provide new tools and support networks to deal with addiction and cravings.

Call Support Systems Homes for OxyContin Rehabilitation

Freedom from OxyContin addiction is possible.  Support Systems Homes' rehab centers provide OxyContin detox (supervised), drug treatment facilities, and supportive living environments for residential & outpatient rehab.

If you or someone you know is addicted to OxyContin and lives in Northern California, call us at (800) 811-1800 to discuss treatment options.  Or email us at info@drug-rehabilitation.com.

Further Resources and Information

Narcotics Anonymous
www.na.org
(Support, links to meetings, phone lines and information)

Nar-Anon
www.nar-anon.org/Nar-Anon/Nar-Anon_Home.html
(Support, links to meetings, phone lines and information for families/friends of addicts)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – Opioids
teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/the-facts/opioids#faq
(Facts on opioids for teens)

OxyContin Advisory from SAMHSA
kap.samhsa.gov/products/manuals/advisory/pdfs/Oxycontin-Advisory.pdf

Pills Anonymous
www.pillsanonymous.org
(Support, links to meetings, phone lines and information)

SAMHSA
www.samhsa.gov
(Information, educational materials, treatment facility locator, and statistics regarding addiction)

SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
1-800-729-6686
ncadi.samhsa.gov

   
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