What is Oxycodone Addiction

Learn More About Oxycodone Addiction

If you’ve ever taken oxycodone to alleviate your pain, then you probably know how powerful this medication can be. This prescription painkiller is often prescribed to those who are suffering from severe pain, and if you were one of these people, then you also know how effective oxycodone can be. However, if you’ve ever taken this medication in excessive amounts for the purposes of either trying to mitigate your pain faster or as a means of achieving some sort of high, then you are likely also struggling with an addiction to this opioid painkiller.

Since oxycodone is in the same classification of drugs as heroin, it can be exceptionally difficult to overcome without professional help. The painful and uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal that you’ve probably experienced are often enough to trigger even the most motivated of people back into the abuse of oxycodone. However, you must know that you don’t need to remain trapped in the vicious cycle of oxycodone addiction. With effective, professional treatment, you can leave the abuse of oxycodone in the past and reclaim a healthy life once more.

Statistics

Statistics of Oxycodone Addiction

Compared to any other nation, doctors in the United States write the most prescriptions for opioids like oxycodone. This alarming fact contributes to the ever-present opioid crisis affecting America, and is very much a contributing factor for the increasing number of lives that are being claimed by this type of chemical dependency problem. In 2015, the American Society of Addiction Medicine reported that over 20,000 deaths were caused by the abuse of opioids like oxycodone, and sadly this number is still rising. However, by informing the public of the dangers associated with the abuse of oxycodone, and by making effective treatment accessible for all, it’s possible that this epidemic will come to a close.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and Risk Factors for Oxycodone Addiction

There are many influences that can lead you to abuse oxycodone. Some are internal and some are external, yet the following contributing factors can all make you vulnerable to the misuse of oxycodone. Read through the below concepts and think about how they have or have not influenced your own life:

Genetic: For some people, genes have a powerful effect on whether or not oxycodone or other drugs will be abused. For instance, if your biological mother, father, brother, or sister struggled with addiction, then you too are vulnerable to grappling with similar issues. The reason for this is because researchers have discovered certain genes that can make substance abuse a more prevalent problem among some families.

Environmental: If you can easily acquire oxycodone, have been exposed to substance abuse, are without healthy skills for coping, and/or have experienced some kind of trauma, then you may be at risk for abusing this drug. These influences are but a handful of environmental factors that can increase your own chances of abusing oxycodone at some point in your life.

Risk Factors:

Family history of substance abuse and addiction
Family history of mental illness
Personal history of substance abuse
Suffering from a medical concern or condition that requires a prescription of oxycodone

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Oxycodone Addiction

There are many signs and symptoms of oxycodone addiction. If you’re unsure if you’re struggling with this sort of chemical dependency problem, look through the following behavioral, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial symptoms, determine if they’re present in your life, and seek professional treatment to overcome them:

Behavioral symptoms:

Using oxycodone in favor of once-enjoyable activities
Using oxycodone even when it’s dangerous to do so
Stealing oxycodone from others
Going to great lengths to conceal one’s use of oxycodone
Failed attempts at stopping the abuse of oxycodone
Attempting to acquire multiple prescriptions for oxycodone, which is otherwise known as “doctor shopping”

Physical symptoms:

Slurred speech
Pupil constriction
Problems with motor functioning
Impaired coordination
Drowsiness
Disrupted sleep
Appetite changes

Cognitive symptoms:

Poor focus
Memory problems
Inability to concentrate
Impaired judgment

Psychosocial symptoms:

Paranoia
Mood swings
Anxiety
Angry outbursts

Effects

Effects of Oxycodone Addiction

Long-term abuse of oxycodone can cause you to endure a great deal of adversity in your life. If the following hasn’t happened already, it’s possible that these effects will occur if you don’t seek professional treatment to defeat your addiction to oxycodone:

Suicidal ideation
Social isolation
Self-harm
Problems with social relationships
Polysubstance abuse
Onset or exacerbation of co-occurring mental health disorders
Kidney and liver failure
Job loss
Incarceration
Homelessness
Heart problems
Financial instability
Family discord
Cognitive impairments
Chronic unemployment
Arrest

Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of oxycodone withdrawal: Oxycodone withdrawal can be one of the greatest deterrents for becoming sober on your own. However, if you seek professional treatment to overcome this sort of addiction, the following effects of withdrawal can be alleviated safely and you can recover once and for all:

Vomiting
Severe cramping
Pain in muscles
Nausea
Excessive sweating
Elevated body temperature
Diarrhea
Depression
Bone pain
Anxiety
Agitation

Effects of oxycodone overdose: An oxycodone overdose can cost you your life. Given this fact, you’ll need emergency medical attention if you start experiencing any of the following after consuming too much of this opioid painkiller:

Unconsciousness
Slurred speech
Seizure
Extreme confusion
Disorientation
Difficulties breathing
Cold and/or clammy skin
Bluish coloration near lips and fingertips

Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorders & the Complexity of Oxycodone Addiction

Some people struggle with other addictions and mental health concerns before they develop an addiction to oxycodone. Conversely, some individuals grapple with such issues after they’ve become addicted to this painkiller. Regardless of which group you fall into, you can be assessed and receive professional care for your oxycodone addiction problem and the following co-occurring disorders at the same time: