Part of being an extreme-sports athlete means going big. Unfortunately, that often leads to getting hurt or living with chronic pain. A lot of the top pros in surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding take some serious falls and suffer extreme injuries. One of the go-to painkillers doctors prescribe to help through the healing process is oxycontin, but you don’t have to be an athlete to get this prescription (some dentists prescribe oxycontin to their patients).
What most people don’t realize is how addictive oxycontin is and the dangerous effects associated with the drug. Whether you’re an extreme athlete or an everyday surfer going to the dentist, it’s good to be informed about the dangers of taking oxycontin.
What is oxycontin?
Oxycontin is a painkiller that is derived from the opiate family and is only available by prescription. The drug works by blocking pain messages to the brain and temporarily stops your body from feeling physical pain. In addition to pain numbing, the drug gives a person the feeling of euphoria; lifting your mood and quelling anxiety. Because of the calming effect of oxycontin, those who suffer from a mild form of depression before taking the drug are at a higher risk of becoming addicted.
Why is oxycontin so addictive?
Like most drugs, the body will build a tolerance to the drug. Oxycontin addiction causes the body to need a higher dosage in order to feel the same high as the first initial high. The body becomes dependent on the drug and a person will start to feel sick from the heavy withdrawals. The mental euphoria combined with the bodies dependency makes oxycontin a dangerously addictive drug.
Oxycontin side effects and withdrawal symptoms:
Oxycontin is no different from any other drug in that it can cause side effects. These side effects can occur even when used as directed and include dizziness, lightheadedness, lethargy, headache, nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, itching, sweating and dry mouth. After a while, a person addicted to oxycontin will start to seek out the drug in order to stop the physical withdrawals. These withdrawal symptoms include, nausea, vomiting, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, sweating, depression, tiredness and heart palpitations.
Oxycontin addiction treatment:
Getting sober from oxycontin is very difficult due to the strength of the drug. Rapid detoxification can cause extreme withdrawal symptoms similar to heroin. If this process isn’t medically managed, the withdrawal symptoms will most likely get too painful and could cause a relapse. That’s why a medically managed treatment for detoxing off oxycontin is highly recommended. The latest oxycontin detoxification treatment is Suboxone and Subtex. This therapy is known to prevent oxycontin withdrawal, decreasing the cravings and successfully weaning the body off the dependency of oxycontin.
Where to go to get help:
There are a variety of inpatient and outpatient programs around the country. Research and find one in your area that is suitable for you. These centers can be expensive, but most accept insurance. If you do not have insurance, it’s recommended to look into state or federally funded programs to help you. With the Affordable Care Act in effect in 2014, there will be a number of substance abuse services added to meet the needs of those who are in need of treatment.
Whether you or someone you know is suffering from oxycontin addiction, get help now. There are options out there to help medically manage the scary withdrawal symptoms. It’s crucial to get the body off of oxycontin because the dependence could lead to seeking out the street form known as heroin. While it’s reported that there has been a drop in oxycontin abuse, there is a rise in heroin use. Stop addiction before it starts and find the help that’s out there.
