Oxycodone, commonly prescribed for pain, has the potential for abuse. Statistically, individuals who abuse oxycodone are 40% more likely to develop a heroin addiction. Getting help as early as possible for oxycodone dependence and addiction can prevent damage to your body and your life.
Oxycodone Dependence and Addiction—What’s the Difference?
Oxycodone increases dopamine activity in the brain—that’s what produces the “high” feeling. With continued use, the brain will cease to produce its own dopamine, so the drug is needed for normal brain function (which includes mood regulation). This change in brain function marks chemical dependence.
Chemical dependence can lead to addiction, but they are not the same. Addiction is marked by a pattern of behaviors that interfere with normal life functions, such as:
- Losing interest in work, school or other activities
- Lying
- Stealing
In the throes of addiction, the focus of a person’s life is simply getting the next dose to sustain the high from oxycodone to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Oxycodone Abuse Prevention
The Board of Pharmacy created the Prescription Monitoring Program to give prescribing physicians access to information to help them identify potential abusers. The program requires a pharmacy to report any time a prescription for a controlled substance is filled. Doctors can then check the report to find out if a patient has had a prescription for oxycodone (or similar opioid pain killer) in the last 12 months.
Duke City Recovery Toolbox participates in the Prescription Monitoring Program to prevent overdoses or adverse drug reactions with other medications that may be prescribed by your health care providers.
Oxycodone Abuse Treatment
Oxycodone abuse can be effectively treated in the same way as abuse of illicit opioids—with opioid replacement therapy and clinical therapy. Duke City Recovery Toolbox offers individualized addiction recovery services. To get started, you simply need to complete an intake appointment. You may contact us to schedule an appointment or simply visit our clinic between 6:00 and 8:00 am Monday through Thursday.
