What is Percocet Addiction

Learn More About Percocet Addiction

Percocet is a powerful painkiller that is extremely effective when it comes to alleviating pain. This medication, which can only be acquired via a prescription from a physician, is one that comes with a warning because of its highly addictive properties. Classified in the same group of drugs as heroin, Percocet can be habit-forming if it’s misused in any way and can lead to the development of an addiction if one’s doctor’s recommendations are ignored. Furthermore, this is a medication that is often intentionally abused because of the euphoric high that it induces.

Realizing that you have a problem with the abuse of Percocet is typically the first step taken towards overcoming this sort of chemical dependency concern. The second step is actually seeking the care you need to win the war against your addiction once and for all. By participating in a reputable treatment program that includes the services, resources, and support required to become sober, you’ll be able to understand yourself and your addiction better, and acquire the recovery skills you need to refrain from further Percocet abuse.

Don’t let one more day pass you by without making the changes required to live a better life. Start your life-changing recovery journey today.

Statistics

Statistics of Percocet Addiction

Percocet abuse is a problem that affects the lives of many American men and women. Opioid addiction, which includes an addiction to Percocet, is believed to affect nearly 0.4% of all adults in the United States. With regards to men and women specifically, opioid abuse that includes the misuse of Percocet has risen nearly 270% among men and is reaching 400% among women. Finally, and according to the America Society of Addiction Medicine, or ASAM, almost 2 million adults in America are grappling with addictions to opioid medications like Percocet.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and Risk Factors for Percocet Addiction

You may know what led you down the path towards Percocet abuse. However, it may be unclear as to why your experimentation with Percocet resulted in an overwhelming and all-consuming addiction. Researchers have tried to determine why some people battle an addiction to Percocet while others don’t, and the following are widely accepted concepts to consider:

Genetic: Addiction is said to be a heritable problem. Experts on the matter have found gene clusters that can run in families and can make them more vulnerable to the abuse of Percocet and other drugs. Therefore, it could help you by looking at your own family history and determining if substance abuse has been a problem for more people in your family than just you.

Environmental: The company you keep and the environment in which you spend your time can affect whether or not you’ll abuse Percocet. For example, if others around you engage in this sort of substance abuse, you’re more likely to partake in it as well. Furthermore, if you can easily get this medication and lack healthy coping skills and support from your loved ones, your risk for Percocet abuse increases exponentially. Lastly, if you’ve ever been given a legitimate prescription for Percocet, you are susceptible to misusing it if you don’t adhere to your doctor’s recommendations.

Risk Factors:

Suffering an injury or from a condition that is treated with Percocet
Personal history of substance abuse
Personal history of mental illness
Family history of substance abuse
Early exposure to substance abuse

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Percocet Addiction

You may or may not be sure if you’re struggling with an addiction to Percocet. While only a qualified professional can give you a definite diagnosis, you can peruse the following, decipher if these symptoms are affecting your life, and make the decision to get help today:

Behavioral symptoms:

Visiting multiple doctors in order to obtain a Percocet prescription
Using Percocet when it is clearly risky to do so
Trying to steal Percocet that was prescribed to someone else
Trying to borrow or steal money to buy Percocet
Taking Percocet in greater amounts for a longer period of time than intended
Continuing to abuse Percocet even after having experienced negative effects as a result
Being unable to stop abusing Percocet

Physical symptoms:

Withdrawal symptoms
Unintentional weight loss
Slurring speech
Slowed heart rate
Shallow breathing
Poor coordination
Insomnia
Fatigue
Exhaustion
Constipation

Cognitive symptoms:

Memory problems
Inability to focus
Inability to concentrate
Impaired judgment

Psychosocial symptoms:

Mood swings
Emotional withdrawal from family and friends
Anger
Agitation

Effects

Effects of Percocet Addiction

Both short- and long-term consequences can happen if you don’t get help to defeat your addiction to Percocet. Some may impact just you, while others can affect your loved ones. However, in getting treatment, the following can be successfully avoided all together:

Vision problems
Unemployment
Suicide attempts
Suicidal ideation
Social withdrawal
Sexual dysfunction
Poor occupational performance
Physical injuries due to being under the influence of Percocet
Onset or exacerbation of co-occurring mental health disorders
Legal problems, including arrest and incarceration
Job loss
Financial ruin
Family discord
Death
Damaged interpersonal relationships
Cardiovascular problems

Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of Percocet withdrawal: The longer that you abuse Percocet, the more likely it is that your body will get used to the presence of this medication and need it in order to maintain functioning. When tolerance to Percocet develops, you’re probably going to experience a series of effects that signify that withdrawal is happening if you restrict your Percocet use. The following are the telltale signs that you’re experiencing Percocet withdrawal, which can also suggest that you need professional treatment:

Watery eyes
Twitches and tremors
Runny nose
Raised body temperature
Insomnia
Excessive sweating
Dysphoria
Dilated pupils
Diarrhea
Cravings for Percocet

Effects of Percocet overdose:
It’s very possible that you may consume too much Percocet. When this happens, your body is likely to be unable to metabolize it safely, which can make you especially vulnerable to an overdose. The following effects are those that signify an overdose on Percocet is occurring, and are also the warning signs that you need medical help quickly:

Vomiting
Slurred speech
Nausea
Memory problems
Loss of consciousness
Faint heartbeat
Coma
Breathing problems
Abdominal cramping

Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorders & the Complexity of Percocet Addiction

An addiction to Percocet frequently affects an individual’s life at the same time as other disorders. Given this fact, if you seek treatment to overcome this type of chemical dependency problem, you may be assessed for and receive care to address the following co-occurring disorders: