Oxycontin Abuse

What is OxyContin Abuse?

OxyContin abuse occurs when the prescription medication OxyContin is taken more often or in larger doses than prescribed, without a prescription or in addition to other drugs for a "rush" or a "high." A regular OxyContin prescription for chronic pain management or for acute pain after surgery can quickly turn into a physical addiction to OxyContin, which, in turn, leads to OxyContin abuse.

What are the Effects of OxyContin Abuse?

OxyContin is the brand name for oxycodone hydrochloride, an opiate prescription medication produced by Purdue Pharma L.P. It is an extended release medication which provides for up to 12 hours of pain relief through a controlled release of the drug at staggered intervals. A Schedule II controlled drug, oxycodone is strictly regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the U.S. Department of Justice.

OxyContin is defined by four pharmacological terms: opiate, narcotic, analgesic and agonist. This means that OxyContin is a drug that provides pain relief by altering the perception of pain by binding with nerve receptors in the brain and spinal cord without loss of consciousness. The effects of opiate prescription medications are similar to those of opium and drugs that are derivatives of opium and include effects like euphoria and disconnectedness.

How is OxyContin Abuse Treated?

OxyContin addiction and its abuse is best treated through a combination of behavioral and pharmacological treatment approaches. At Meditox, we provide you with the pharmacological half of your treatment with a prescription for buprenorphine in the form of either Subutex or Suboxone. If you decide to embark on 12-step meetings or counseling and need our support, our professional staff is on call for you, 24 hours of every day.

How Does Buprenorphine Treat OxyContin Abuse?

Buprenorphine is the first drug to be approved in the United States for dispensation from a doctor's office setting for the purpose of treating drug addiction. Other drugs like methadone that are traditional prescriptions for opiate addiction, maintenance and detox are restricted to dispensation by a substance abuse clinic or rehab facility. Family physicians or private doctors cannot prescribe methadone, which means that those who take it must be in a residential treatment or make a daily trip to the clinic to receive their dose.

At Meditox, our priority is to help you find freedom from OxyContin addiction as simply and seamlessly as possible. We provide a prescription for buprenorphine that you are free to take at home without further supervision. You need only be present for one initial appointment in which you will undergo a thorough evaluation. After that, you and a Meditox physician will create a treatment plan that addresses your individual needs. Should you need further assistance after you return home, our support staff are on call for you 24 hours a day.

If you think Meditox could be a fit for you or your loved one, call today at 888-MEDITOX.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:

Additional Resources

U.S. Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center: OxyContin Diversion and Abuse

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bulletin: OxyContin Information

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory: OxyContin

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“Today is week #5! I have my life back, this morning my husband told me he hadn't seen me like this in three years! My daughter told me "your back Mom"! My Fybromyalgia is down to 2 to 3 percent of what it was, I am fully able to live with the Joy and Love and Laughter which has always been my way.”

Mother, Real Estate Agent, 49
August 11, 2006

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