Time Release Is Still Addictive

In 1995, researchers thought they had made a bold strike in the fight against prescription painkiller abuse. Medications such as morphine were commonly abused, as they were provided in convenient dosages that users could simply double or triple in order to get high. Producers of oxycodone wrapped their drugs in a time-release capsule. In so doing, they thought it would be harder for addicts to abuse the pills. After all, they’re not designed to provide a rush of the drug. They’re designed to come on slowly and go away slowly. Sadly, addicts found a way around this time-release safeguard. In fact, it’s this time-release capability that makes oxycodone abuse so very dangerous. Addicts can crush the pills, stripping out the time-release capability, and receive hours of medication, all at the same time. When addicts figured this out, addiction rates began to climb.

The preparation of hydrocodone from thebaine was done to avoid the mood altering effects that were common with morphine and heroin. Oxycodone, like morphine, acts on the brain but does not show the full spectrum of mood altering effects seen with morphine or heroin, nor are the effects long lasting. However, the drug does have some euphoric effects, lessens anxiety and gives the user a pleasant experience. This plus the relatively easy availability of the drug has made it liable to abuse. Oxycodone and its derivatives have been illicitly abused in North America for the past 20-30 years.

If you or a friend are suffering from an addiction to Oxycontin and are ready to break that addiction, now would be the time to contact us at the Above It All Treatment Center.  We have trained professionals that can work with you to find the best way to set you on the road to a successful recovery.