The Science Behind Oxycodone Addiction

The Science Behind Oxycodone Addiction
The Science Behind Oxycodone Addiction

 

Oxycodone is the active ingredient in a range of painkillers like OxyContin and Percodan which can only be obtained by prescription. This is because oxycodone is highly addictive and also the main culprit behind an alarming rise of prescription drug abuse which is now considered to be an epidemic in America. Oxycodone is a substance that’s classified as a Schedule II controlled drug and although it is only legally available on prescription, there is a growing black market that is compounding the problem in the US today.

 

How Do People Become Addicted to Oxycodone?

 

Whether obtained by prescription or illegally, oxycodone is a drug so potent that there is a possibility of overdosing on the first occasion of use. This is the main reason physicians are reluctant to prescribe oxycodone painkillers, particularly for chronic conditions which are likely to be prolonged. Medications containing oxycodone work in pain relief by flooding the brain with dopamine which sends signals of intense pleasure around the body.

 

The problem arises when people become tolerant to the effects of oxycodone. For example, if they are using the substance for pain relief, they may find themselves needing higher doses to manage their symptoms as effectively as when they first started their course. Those using oxycodone for pleasure-seeking purposes will also develop tolerance if they continue to use and they will have to take more of the substance to get the high they desire.

 

Tolerance is marked by withdrawal symptoms which become more severe as a person’s dependence on oxycodone worsens. Withdrawal symptoms are the body’s way of manifesting cravings for a substance it has become used to receiving at regular intervals. People then fall into addictive behaviors in attempts to reduce withdrawal symptoms by using the drug their body is craving for. This cycle can only be broken by a complete detox of the body to eliminate the accumulated toxins resulting from oxycodone abuse.

 

Get Help for Oxycodone Addiction at Casa Recovery in San Juan Capistrano, CA

 

If you are struggling with oxycodone then it is important for you to know that you are not alone. Many people who have been prescribed highly-addictive medications are unaware that they are developing dependence or addiction. It is always advisable to get help sooner rather than later in order to avoid serious health conditions, some of which can be life-threatening. For professional drug addiction treatment in Orange County, contact Casa Recovery in confidence today.

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