OxyContin is a type of medication that can relieve pain. Doctors commonly prescribe it to patients who have severe injuries, arthritis or cancer. This morphine-like drug is a schedule II controlled substance, which means that people need a prescription to obtain it. Compared to other painkillers, OxyContin has a long-acting formula. It works well for those who need round-the-clock relief.

Aspirin and Tylenol are not strong enough to help people who are suffering from moderate to severe pain, so they need opioids to make the pain more bearable. Unfortunately, its potency is what makes OxyContin a popular street drug. Many people who abuse OxyContin crush the tablets so that they can swallow or snort them. Sometimes, they even dilute the tablets in water to inject them into their veins. These methods destroy the time-release mechanism, which allows the user to experience the drug’s full effect immediately.

Illegally obtained OxyContin is a major issue for drug enforcement officials. Some common street names for OxyContin include Kicker, OC and Hillbilly Heroin. An addiction to OxyContin is dangerous because the drug makes people feel like they can tolerate more. Those who use too much of the drug can go into respiratory failure. The drug becomes even more dangerous when people combine it with alcohol or benzodiazepines.

As with other opiates, people can develop a tolerance if they use OxyContin on a regular basis. Once people develop a tolerance for the drug, they require larger doses to elicit the drug’s euphoric effects. Besides taking larger doses, the users also need to take the drug more often to stay high. Over time, people start to develop a dangerous OxyContin prescription addiction. They become more and more addicted each time they use the drug.

OxyContin addiction also occurs when people use the drug in a way that the manufacturer did not intend. For example, those who snort or inject the drug are likely to become addicted. When people snort or inject the tablets, they feel an intense high right away. The high that people experience while abusing OxyContin is similar to the euphoria that heroin users feel. Once people experience an intense high, their body starts to crave more of the drug. Those who abuse OxyContin regularly are likely to need to professional help.

Anyone who uses OxyContin can develop an addiction, but it most commonly affects those who are prone to addictive behavior. OxyContin drug addiction is prevalent among young adults in rural areas. Sometimes, those who have a legal prescription sell the tablets to other people for a profit. In addition, some people also acquire the drug by visiting multiple doctors to have more than one prescription written out.

Many chronic pain patients worry when their doctor increases their dosage of OxyContin, but they do not need to worry because they are under medical supervision. It is normal for the body to develop a tolerance for a drug over time. Patients take OxyContin as directed, so they do not get a high from using it. Those who worry about becoming addicted can suffer needlessly if they refuse to take painkillers. With that said, doctors also examine each patient’s history before implementing a treatment plan. If the patient has a history of drug abuse, then the doctor is likely to prescribe something other than OxyContin.

Those who abuse OxyContin risk respiratory failure because the drug depresses respiration and leads to slowness of breath. The addiction commonly causes people to feel weak, tired and dizzy. In addition, those who abuse the drug may also experience confusion, feelings of apathy, nausea and vomiting. Reducing consumption can also lead to painful withdrawal symptoms.