Oxycodone Addiction
Oxycodone is primarily used as a pain reliever that is prescribed by the pharmaceutical industry. For this purpose, it is highly effective at alleviating extreme pain of patients with a variety of different ailments. However, oxycodone is also a substance with a high risk of being abused, and can lead to chronic addiction. Abusing oxycodone can be a gateway to getting hooked on harder substances, in addition to the dangers that are already inherent in that abuse.
Physical Effects of Oxycodone Abuse
Oxycodone has a major effect on a user’s nervous system, which is precisely what makes it such an effective painkiller. However, other side effects can stem from using oxycodone too much. For example, vomiting and nausea are common symptoms of oxycodone abuse. At the same time, processing oxycodone can overwork several major organs, such as your heart and kidney. Over time, this can increase the chances of complications with those organs, or even overdose.
Mental Effects of Oxycodone Abuse
While the physical effects of oxycodone abuse can be dramatic, there are also mental effects that can be harmful to the psychological health of the user. For example, oxycodone is a mood-altering substance, which means that overuse can lead to drastic mood swings, which leads to increases in depression and anxiety, as well as irrational irritation. This can also be a catalyst for migraines, and may even cause hallucinations in certain predisposed users.
How to Regcognize Oxycodone Addiction
Because oxycodone actually has many medical purposes, it can be difficult to differentiate between someone who is suffering from a bad side effect of using oxycodone as prescribed and someone who is abusing oxycodone. Someone who is suffering from the extreme mental effects of oxycodone, such as hallucinations, or someone who becomes highly irritable when going stretches of times without using oxycodone, is likely engaging in behavior that quantifies as abuse.
Don’t Hesitate to Get Help
If you or someone you know struggles with oxycodone abuse, it is important to get them help as soon as possible, especially due to the risk of switching to stronger street drugs, such as heroin. Don’t hesitate to give Renaissance Ranch, Utah’s top addiction rehabilitation center, a call today!