How To Recognize Oxycontin Addiction

Over the past few years OxyContin has risen out of relative obscurity to become one of the most abused drugs in the country.

With its powerful painkilling properties and close similarity to morphine, the mounting reports of OxyContin (timed release oxycodone hydrochloride) abuse and dependency has caused both healthcare professionals and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reconsider how the drug is packaged and marketed.

As with other painkillers, OxyContin has several withdrawal symptoms which can be signs of a possible addiction problem. However, if you take the drug as prescribed, meaning no more and no less, then you shouldn’t experience these symptoms. Also, it is suggested that you gradually ease off using this drug as opposed to abruptly going cold turkey. Anxiety, nausea, muscle pain, muscle weakness, flu-like symptoms and fevers are all legitimate concerns during withdrawal.

There are a few signs to look out if you suspect a friend or loved one might be abusing a strong prescription painkiller such as OxyContin. Pharmacy theft, fraudulent prescriptions and over-prescribing in the United States have led to abuse of OxyContin. On an older version of OxyContin, there was a warning on the bottle stating that the time release tablets shouldn’t be crushed. This led to recreational drug users crushing and snorting the capsules. OxyContin’s popular street name is “hillbilly heroin” and its abuse is on the rise. If you think a loved one is overindulging in the effects of OxyContin, talk to them immediately about the dangers of addiction; if you suspect a powerful addiction has developed, OxyContin addiction treatment therapy is always an option.

At Above It All Treatment Center, we are here and ready to help you or a loved one who is experiencing any of these symptoms.  We will work with you to design a program that is tailored to your needs and will put you on the road to recovery.  

Oxycontin: Coming To A Community Near You

OxyContin Abuse is becoming a wide spread problem in America. OxyContin is a leading treatment for chronic pain, but officials fear it may succeed crack cocaine on the street. The DEA says it is only a matter of time before every community in the country is confronted with the problem of OxyContin abuse.

Rather than ingesting the pill as indicated, people who abuse OxyContin use other methods of administering the drug. To avoid the controlled-release, they chew, snort, or inject the medication to get an instant and intense "high".

The abuse of OxyContin, as with the abuse of most prescription drugs, creates a cycle of health care fraud. For example, a corrupt physician writes a patient a prescription for OxyContin for a nonexistent injury. The physician bills the insurance company for that, and subsequent visits. The patient uses a portion of the OxyContin and sells the rest for a substantial profit.

Oxycodone is an agonist opioid. It is thought to be one of the most effective pain relievers available. Unlike the other analgesics, opioid agonists have an increasing analgesic effect with increased doses. Meaning that the more you take, the better you feel. Other analgesics, like aspirin or acetaminophen, have a threshold to their effectiveness.

OxyContin, especially when chewed or snorted lowers a person's respiration rate. Each person is different, but as little as half a pill when combined with alcohol or other depressants can lower your respiratory system enough to be deadly. Excessive amounts of OxyContin taken alone or combined with a long list of other medications can also easily kill a person by lowering their respiration until they eventually stop breathing. The most dangerous side effect is overdosing.

If you are locked into a need for Oxycontin and are starting to feel out of control, you may need to seek outside help.  At Above It All Treatment Center, we are here to provide that help.  Contact us and let us show you how we can start you on the road to recovery through a personalized treatment plan that is designed just for you.

Inpatient Treatment May Be Right For You

If you are addicted to OxyContin, oxycodone, heroin, Percocet, fentanyl or other opiates, we can help. We provide medically assisted withdrawal and detoxification services to get you stabilized.  You’ll also get the counseling, resources and support you need to build a new life for yourself, healthy and sober. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be ready to make a change. Our team of experts will be at your side to support you every step of the way.

Sometimes the usual outpatient rehab does not provide enough of a constant therapy and assistance to allow you the ability to recover.  While some patients can quit cold turkey and others can do with the simple routines of outpatient therapy, there are some who need a more personalized approach.  If this is you, then our team of professionals is here to provide you with the constant care that is required to build your strength, to build your resistance, to build your resolve and to put you on the path to a relapse free recovery.

At Above It All Treatment Center we will sit down and map a day by day personalized program that will be designed with you and your needs in mind.  We will discover your strengths and identify your weaknesses so you are aware what needs to be conquered.  Our inpatient program has a strong track record for turning serious drug addicts into fully recovered former addicts that are leading normal lives and meeting family and work responsibilities.  Contact us today and see what we can do for you.

Will I Become Addicted To OxyContin If I Take It Every Day

OxyContin is only intended for moderate to severe pain that is present on a daily basis and that requires a very strong pain reliever. Patients with this type of severe pain condition require daily pain treatment. Taking OxyContin daily can result in physical dependence, a condition in which the body shows signs of narcotic withdrawal if the OxyContin is stopped suddenly. This is not the same thing as addiction, which represents a situation in which people obtain and take narcotics because of a psychological need, and not just to treat a legitimate painful condition.


Physical dependence can be treated by, under the advice of a physician, slowly decreasing the OxyContin dose when it is no longer needed for the treatment of pain. Concerns of addiction should not prevent patients with appropriate pain conditions from using OxyContin or other narcotics for pain relief.

However, if you find that you are increasing your dosage as you build a tolerance for OxyContin, this could be a sign that you are facing an addiction problem.  This could mean it is time to see out professional help in order to stop any addiction before it becomes a major problem.

If you are in need of some help to break an addiction, then we can help.  Contact us and we can design a personal program to meet your needs.  At Above It All Treatment Center, we are here to assist you on the road to an addiction free life.  Contact us today to see what we can do for you.