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Commonly Known As: Oxy, Oxy’s, Oxies, Oxycotton, OC’s,
Killers, Oceans, O’s, Oxycoffins.
Access to Drug: By prescription, through dealers, parties, raves,
friends, and the internet without prescription. It is illegal to possess
Oxycontin without a prescription and arrests can be made for possession,
sales, driving under the influence, and transporting the drug.
Scientific Name: Oxycodone Hydrochloride controlled release.
It is an opioid analgesic, central nervous system depressant that relieves
pain for up to 12 hours and induces sleep. It is highly addictive.
Interesting Facts: Oxycontin is rapidly becoming a wide spread
problem in the United States. The drug was developed in the mid 1990’s
from Oxycodone (Percoset) for time release extended pain management
of chronic pain in dying cancer patients, and people suffering from
around the clock chronic pain. Unfortunately, some patients prescribed
Oxycontin and Oxycodone without proper instructions are finding themselves
battling an addiction problem. Oxycontin abuse is also believed to be
responsible for numerous deaths in adolescents, especially when combined
with alcohol, and has contributed to an increase in crime in some communities.
Purdue Pharmacies, which developed the drug, is currently exploring
methods of creating a new form of Oxycontin which would include an opiate
antagonist that would block the effects of the opiates if the pill is
crushed.
Methods of Use: Oxycontin is a pill that is taken orally. Abusers
will use methods including chewing, crushing the pill and snorting the
ingredients, or intravenously. Some will lick or rub off the time release
coating on the pill prior to administration.
Common Effects When Intoxicated: Euphoria, dry mouth, motor
impairment, impaired judgment, hallucinations, impaired gait, pin point
pupils, slurred speech, nausea, and sedation. The effects are reported
to be similar to Heroin but with worse consequences.
Duration of Intoxication: When taken as prescribed, the effects
last approximately 12 hours. However, crushing or chewing a pill immediately
releases all the narcotics into the system instead of over time and
the effects can be felt for about four to six hours followed by intense
cravings. Overdoses are common due to people not realizing that even
half a pill when crushed can lower the respiratory system enough to
cause coma or death.
Withdrawal: The intensity of the withdrawal depends on the amount
of drug used and the duration of abuse. It is more intense than Heroin
withdrawal and includes flu-like symptoms with body and muscle aches,
itchy skin, inability to concentrate, sleep disturbance, amotivation,
headaches, nausea, and hot and cold flashes. Regular abusers/addicts
require cessation therapy in a medical facility. However, cravings combined
with the extremely uncomfortable withdrawal often lead to relapse.
Effects of Long Term Use: Because Oxycontin is still relatively
new, long term effects have not been documented. It is estimated that
like Heroin addicts, the longer the use or abuse, the more intense the
cravings as well as an increased need for more of the drug to reach
the desired effects. Weight loss/anorexia, amotivation, brain dysfunction
and other symptoms common to long term use of opiate drugs can be expected.
Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction: Oxycontin is highly addictive
both physically and psychologically. The body quickly adapts to the
narcotics in the brain and muscle tissue while psychologically, users
will crave the euphoric feelings created by the drug. Treatment is required
in a supportive, medical environment in order to aid in the withdrawal
process as well as make changes in behavior that was adopted in order
to maintain the addiction. “Doctor hopping” is common with
Oxycontin abusers as well as the development of psycho-somatic symptoms.
Associated Risks: Users of Oxycontin can experience any number
of traumas due to the cessation of pain, physically and emotionally.
Car accidents, suicide, overdose, seizures and death can result especially
if Oxycontin is used in combination with alcohol, tranquilizers, hypnotics,
and other central nervous system depressants. With addiction, abusers
will often resort to crime to maintain their drug use.
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