OxyContin Addiction | OxyContin In Ohio

Manish Mishra, MBBS

Medically Reviewed By: Manish Mishra, MBBS

on December 7, 2022

OxyContin addiction is a mental health issue where you’re unable to stop using oxy despite harmful consequences. Treating OxyContin addiction may require professional healthcare and treatment services.

OxyContin addiction can lead to poor mental health, opioid dependence, withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using, and a decreased quality of life.

OxyContin is a brand-name semisynthetic opioid or pain reliever. Its generic name is oxycodone, and the drug has legal uses as a painkiller for moderate to severe pain. OxyContin is a Schedule II controlled substance with a high potential for substance abuse.

What Is OxyContin?

OxyContin is a prescription opioid drug developed in 1996 by Purdue Pharma, L.P. It was heavily marketed and prescribed by Purdue Pharma and doctors alike. 

Purdue Pharma used intensive marketing strategies to promote OxyContin to physicists and healthcare providers, especially for all-purpose pain relief.

At this time, studies suggested OxyContin may have possessed few benefits compared to other pain medications. However, by the early 2000s, OxyContin was a significant part of the opioid epidemic, a national health crisis that saw high rates of opiate abuse, addiction, and overdose.

OxyContin In Ohio

Recent lawsuits in Ohio awarded settlements to two Ohio counties, which sued national pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart for irresponsible opioid distribution

As of  2022, OxyContin may be less preferable than newer opioids such as fentanyl, but can still be sold legally or on Ohio streets with street names such as “oxy” or “OC.”

OxyContin Abuse

Opioid abuse includes taking higher doses of OxyContin than your doctor prescribed, taking OxyContin without a prescription, or using OxyContin by crushing, snorting, smoking, or injecting tablets.

Your risk of OxyContin addiction may increase if you engage in unapproved forms of opioid abuse. 

Effects Of OxyContin Addiction

Drug addiction is a mental health problem classified by an inability to stop taking opioid painkillers. Addiction may also be called substance use disorder, or in the case of OxyContin and other opioid medications, opioid use disorder.

OxyContin addiction can affect your physical and mental health in the following ways:

  • poor mental health
  • making OxyContin use your highest priority
  • serious side effects of OxyContin, such as respiratory depression
  • opioid dependence (a state where your body needs OxyContin to function)
  • withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings, vomiting, and cold flashes, when you stop taking OxyContin
  • OxyContin overdose, which can be life-threatening

Signs Of OxyContin Addiction

If a family member or loved one is abusing OxyContin, they may attempt to hide it from you. They may display signs of addiction that can be difficult to hide, such as:

  • side effects of oxycodone, such as sedation or drowsiness
  • changing friends or social circles
  • poor performance at work or school
  • mood changes
  • drug paraphernalia for snorting or injecting drugs

Risk factors such as a family history of substance abuse may lead to a higher risk of OxyContin addiction. If a loved one displays these signs, consider holding an intervention and referring them to an addiction treatment program.

OxyContin Addiction Treatment Options

The state of Ohio recently passed laws that monitored opioid prescribing and usage practices. However, opioid addiction and overdose deaths continue to be public health problem in the state.

It can be difficult to quit OxyContin due to the drug’s habit-forming nature. A professional treatment center can offer detox support, treatment for co-occurring disorders, behavioral therapy, and medication such as methadone to improve your chances of recovery.

To find out if our prescription drug abuse program is right for you or a loved one, please contact us today.

FAQs

How Long Does OxyContin Stay In Your System?

How long OxyContin stays in your system depends on a variety of factors like age, weight, and liver function, but on average, it stays in the system for approximately 20-24 hours. OxyContin could also show up on a urine drug test for up to four days after last use.

Learn more about How Long OxyContin Stays In Your System

What’s A Safe Dosage Of OxyContin?

Prescription opioid use must be weighed against the medication’s potential side effects and risks. Therefore, a safe dosage of OxyContin is one that’s prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and considers a patient’s physical characteristics, opioid tolerance, and need.

Learn more about OxyContin Dosage

Does Rectal OxyContin Use Work?

Rectal OxyContin use works but is a dangerous form of drug abuse. An OxyContin tablet may be crushed into a powder, combined with a liquid, and inserted into the rectum. However, this creates serious health problems and may lead to an overdose.

Learn more about Plugging OxyContin

What’s It Like To Be High On OxyContin?

OxyContin (oxycodone) can be extremely euphoric if misused, generating overwhelming but temporary feelings of pleasure, safety, calmness, and wellbeing.

Learn more about an OxyContin High

What Does OxyContin Look Like?

OxyContin is an opioid prescription drug that is round in shape and comes in a variety of colors. Each colored tablet contains an imprint with the corresponding dosage amount.

Learn more about What OxyContin Looks Like

How Much Does OxyContin Cost In Ohio?

On Ohio’s illegal drug market, OxyContin typically costs between $12 and $80 per tablet. The exact price depends on factors like strength and location. 

Learn more about OxyContin Street Prices In Ohio

How Does OxyContin Affect Sex Drive?

OxyContin may inhibit sex hormones in both men and women, which may lead to reduced sex drive, impotence, and infertility. More research may be needed to determine how oxycodone affects sex hormones and sexual behaviors.

Learn more about The Effects Of OxyContin On Sex & Intimacy

Is Fake OxyContin A Problem In Ohio?

Yes, fake OxyContin is a problem in Ohio. Fake oxy pills sold on the street may contain lethal doses of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid with potentially deadly effects.

Learn more about Fake OxyContin In Ohio

Can You Take OxyContin While Pregnant?

No, you cannot take OxyContin while pregnant without serious health risks. If you are addicted to OxyContin and become pregnant, you can talk to your Ohio doctor about substance abuse treatment for the safety of your child.

Learn more about Taking OxyContin While Pregnant

  1. American Journal of Public Health — The Promotion and Marketing of OxyContin: Commercial Triumph, Public Health Tragedy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2622774/
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Understanding the Epidemic https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html
  3. National Institute on Drug Abuse — Commonly Used Drugs Charts https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/commonly-used-drugs-charts#prescription-opioids
  4. PBS NewsHour — Judge says pharmacies owe 2 Ohio counties $650 million in opioids suit https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/judge-says-pharmacies-owe-2-ohio-counties-650-million-in-opioids-suit

Written by Ohio Recovery Center Editorial Team

© 2024 Ohio Recovery Center | All Rights Reserved

* This page does not provide medical advice.

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