Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication that is highly addictive. The cases of addiction to oxycodone in Glendale have increased dramatically in the recent past.
Like many drugs, oxycodone addiction begins with taking more than the required dosage and developing a tolerance to the medicine. Soon thereafter, the victim is consuming high doses of the medicine and is dependent on them as opposed to using them for pain only. The tendencies of someone who is addicted to oxycodone are the same as someone who is addicted to other drugs, there are also withdrawal symptoms once the victim gets off the drug.
The following are some interesting factoids about oxycodone addiction that you may not know:
Oxycodone is Chemically Similar to Heroin
Many people do not know this but the molecular structures of oxycodone and heroin are very similar. In fact, the only difference between them are three oxygen molecules.
Due to their similarities, the effect of oxycodone and heroin to the brain are very similar. That includes reducing pain, creating a feeling of euphoria and the potential to be highly addictive. Many experts say that oxycodone is a gateway drug to heroin but the opposite is actually true. It is much easier and cheaper to acquire oxycodone than it is to get heroin.
Millions of People Use Oxycodone
It is estimated that over 2.4 million people in the United States alone have consumed Oxycodone at some point in their lives. That is a very high number of potential addicts. The prevalent use of Oxycodone and its increasing prescription as a pain medication has led to the drastic increase in addiction cases. The bad news is that most of the users of the medication are not aware of its addictive potential.
With so many users unaware of the dangers of consuming Oxycodone, it is no wonder so many people are addicted to it.
You Can Recover from Oxycodone Overdose
There are many cases of Oxycodone overdoses by addicted users. Once you start increasing the dosage, it is only a matter of time before an overdose is imminent.
There is a drug known as naloxone that is used to reverse the effects of Oxycodone and treat an overdose. Many emergency personnel and first responders now carry naloxone with them wherever they go.
Members of the public are also encouraged to have it in their first aid kits in case of an overdose. Considering how prevalent the opioid addiction crisis is, that is a great idea.
Oxycodone Addiction Is Treatable
Just as with heroin, an addiction to Oxycodone can be treated in the right environment given enough time. The withdrawal symptoms of Oxycodone addiction are as severe as those of heroin. The withdrawal symptoms of Oxycodone include pain, restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea and full body shivers. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms will depend on the level of addiction.
It does not matter what led to the addiction to Oxycodone, whether it was a legal prescription or recreational abuse, the good news is that it can be treated. However, you need the right facility for the treatment to be effective.