Oxycontin Addiction: Signs You or Your Loved One May Have a Problem
by Dr. Michael Lowenstein, M.D., MPH, Medical Director — Waismann Method® Opioid Treatment Specialists and Rapid Detox Center
What Makes Oxycontin Particularly Addictive?
Oxycontin is a narcotic pain medication prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It is an opioid analgesic which means it works on the body’s opiate receptors to change how the body feels and responds to pain. There’s a strong potential for addiction because this powerful drug quickly relieves physical and emotional pain. A person may experience a sense of pleasure or numbness of any discomfort due to physical ailments or emotional distress. Therefore, individuals continue to take it because they appear to feel better. However, over time the body will require more of the drug to attain the same effect. Once the body becomes physically dependent upon the drug, the person will experience intense withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to quit or decrease their use. This often leads to the person’s continued use whether or not the physical pain persists.
Signs You May be Addicted to Oxycontin
There are a number of physical signs that reveal you may have an addiction to Oxycontin. First, the person generally develops a physical dependence. For example, if you increase your dose because you notice you begin feeling sick between doses or if you don’t feel the same level of pain relief from your usual dose. Maybe you have repeatedly tried to cut down or quit, but you weren’t able to due to the physical or psychological withdrawal symptoms. You may also experience strong cravings for the drug because you haven’t taken any for a period of time.
The addiction occurs when you start noticing your oxycontin use interferes with personal relationships, work or obligations. You may also go to extreme or dangerous lengths to obtain the drug. For example, seeing multiple doctors, ordering prescriptions online, or buying illicit drugs on the street. In other words, you take big risks in order to continue using the drug because your judgment is impaired. These can be risks to your health, family life and even legal consequences.
Signs of Oxycontin Addiction in a Loved One
You may notice changes in your loved one’s physical appearance or mood due to oxycontin addiction. For example, a person who is currently using oxycontin may have pinpoint pupils, seem drowsy or sedated, and not show much interest in anything. Depending on the severity of their addiction, you may also notice some of the following:
· Relationship issues or increased conflict with those closest to them
· A previously very responsible person may be now frequently calling off work or not completing their duties at home
· They no longer attend or participate in the same social gatherings or activities
· Their physical appearance may be less put together
· They behave secretively
Getting Help
Oxycontin Addiction Treatment Options
There are many oxycontin addiction treatment programs available. However, not all programs offer the same level of care, support or provide individualized treatment based on the needs of the patient. The highest level of care is an inpatient medical detox in a full-service hospital. This enables the patient to receive 24-hour support, monitoring of vitals and high doses of medications to alleviate oxycontin withdrawal symptoms.
For more than 22 years, Waismann Method® has successfully treated thousands of patients suffering from oxycontin addiction. In most cases, patients stay 5 to 10 days total including the hospital detox and aftercare at our private recovery center. All patients receive a private room and around-the-clock monitoring. Although the detox occurs quickly, there is a period of regulation that the body must experience to find a new baseline. Therefore, it is a responsible medical practice and more effective to provide inpatient aftercare for a few days so the patient has the best chance at their new beginning.
