What is OxyContin?
Oxycodone is an opiate that is
prescribed for moderate to high pain relief associated
with severe injuries, bursitis, dislocation, fractures,
neuralgia, arthritis, lower back and cancer pain.
OxyContin, Perocet, Percodan, and Tylox are other trade
names for Oxycodone products. Prescribed in tablet form,
OxyContin is supposed to be taken orally to allow the
controlled release of Oxycodone over a 12 hour period,
making it the longest lasting pain reliever on the
market. As with most opioids, Oxycodone is highly
addictive and has a high potential for abuse, thus it is
classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
as a Schedule II narcotic.
How is OxyContin abused?
Oxycontin is a very powerful time released medication
that is to be taken under close supervision of a
physician. Using the drug without the supervision
of a physician or for purposes other than its intended
use can lead to serious and adverse consequences,
including death from overdose. When abused,
tablets are crushed and snorted, chewed, injected or
smoked. If the pill is not taken in the prescribed
manner, the Oxycodone is introduced all at once rather
than a slow release as intended. Within ten
minutes, the effects are felt and last three to four
hours. Most individuals who abuse Oxycodone seek
to gain euphoric effects, and avoid withdrawal symptoms
associated with Oxycodone or heroin abstinence.
Prescription Drug Abuse Facts and Misconceptions
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Society has developed the belief that
"PILLS" cure all and if it's from the DRUG
STORE, it must be SAFE and HARMLESS. |
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Teens feel using RX drugs to get high is
"much safer" than street drugs, and because they
are prescribed, 1/3 believe RX painkillers are
not dangerous or addictive. |
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It is estimated that almost 30 million
people used prescription drugs non-medically in
2009, and of those, 1.5 million were dependent
on them. |
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Prescription drugs have become the second
most abused illegal drug behind marijuana in
juveniles ages 12-17 and most commonly abused
among 12-13 year olds. |
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For the first time, there are just as many
new abusers (12 and older) of prescription drugs
as there are for marijuana. |
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Teens ages 12-17 have the second-highest
annual rates of prescription drug abuse after
young adults and are turning away from
street drugs and
using prescription drugs
to get high. |
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