Prescription Drugs "Oxycontin" and Addiction with Detox Video

We have all seen the recent controversy surrounding celebrity deaths do to the abuse of prescription drugs. Famous actors and musicians of the past, struggled with addiction surrounding the more traditionally street drugs such as; heroin and cocaine.The recent deaths due to prescription overdose, of eight celebrity, has struck many as a surprising, to this so called "new" addiction problem. The fact is prescription drugs have been and still are affecting those much closer to us.

It Starts

The addiction to prescription drugs starts, for many, unintentionally, as other addictions do. The problem with prescription narcotics, such as opiates, is that they are prescribed by a trusted physician to reduce a bodily pain of some kind. Because these drugs are prescribed, it leads a person to believe "I was prescribed the meds. by my doctor, so it must be OK", which is true as long as the meds are taken as instructed and for a short period of time. The problem occurs when a person continues to take the opiate after the pain has subsided. Disregarding the instruction by using an increased amount of medication, more than what the doctor has directed, is problematic by risk as well. Taking these narcotics after the initial pain has subsided is when the feelings of "being relaxed, calm, happy, or care free", appears. Before, the opiates were fighting to reduce the initial pain, providing enough relief to fall asleep or give a feeling of normality. When the pain is not mixed with the narcotic, the opiate acts as it normally would. When there is no pain to counter act, the opiate gives a person a since of euphoria. Creating a world that SEEMSto have less and less problems. A persons reality or problems never change, the drugs just help in aplying the "I don't give a shit attitude".

This carefree feeling is even more dangerous for those who already struggle with mental issues such as; depression or anxiety. Once the initial prescription runs out and the daily dose of painkillers is gone, the first signs of a problem will appear, bringing the dependence to, slightly obvious, for users, but not yet noticed by family and friends.

Now that the pain killers are gone; the feelings of reality move back in, while patients, happiness, and energy become nonexistent. Unwilling to deal with the stresses of reality, that now seem overwhelming, an addict will seek out the comfort of their poison. Painkillers are easily found or prescribed, in some cases. A person who is an addicted WILL find their way to another prescription, in the form of their own or someone else's.

Progression of Addiction

Opiate addiction is just like any other drug when it comes to the amount "needed". Increased amounts consumed = increased amounts needed to reach a level of satisfaction. In the beginning, satisfying a craving is an attempt to experience that initial euphoria. A person "falling into addiction"will begin to consume more of their own prescription, when available. Over use of the prescription leaves the prescribed with an empty pill bottle before the refill time. A quick depletion of their own medication may be tolerated for a short time, but the "pre-addict" crosses the line to "addict" when they resort to seeking out, purchasing or even stealing opiates from others. The addict will likely look for or move up in either mg or level of narcotic.

For example; "After the birth of my second daughter, I was sent home with the normal six week supply of 5.mg Hydrocodon. I was later prescribed 30 5.mg Hydrocodon, monthly, for menstrual cramps, which just continued the supply. I managed to stay at the 5mg dose for about seven months. One afternoon, at a friend’s house, a headache came on strong and fast. My friend, who recently had surgery, gave me a 10mg Vicodin. When I was leaving she handed me 2 FULL bottles and said, "take them with you for your headaches, I don't ever take them anyways". From there on my addiction moved quickly. Once the opiate dosage is increased, a line is crossed, the addiction moves from, something you are managing or could quit with little difficulty to something you NEED, in order to fulfill dailey function".

Oxycontin

The level and amount of the opiate, initially consumed, begins to become unnoticeable due to the tolerance levels built up in the body. Once this tolerance has reached the point of "feeling no noticeable physical or psychological effect", a graduation occurs. In most cases, this "graduation", is an increase by schedule of the narcotic, but still remains in the prescribed opiate form. When on and addicted to opiates such as, hydrocodone or Vicodine, a schedule III narcotic, the graduation usually occurs to a schedule II narcotic, such as OXYCONTIN (Hydrochloride), (used to treat pain experienced by cancer patients), DILAUDID(hydromorphone hydrochloride) or FENTANYL (buccal) (used for breakthrough pain caused by cancer in patients who are already using and are tolerant to around-the-clock narcotic pain medicine), all are used for terminally ill patients to increase comfort until death.

All schedule II narcotics are controlled opoid agonist, used for similar purposes, and cause similar effects. For the purpose of this hub and the increased popularity, the concentration will surround the abuse of Oxycontin. Oxycontin was introduced in 1995 and has since been given the nicknamed "hillbilly heroin" due to the similar high it creates. It has become the leading opiate abused by teens and adults in the past five years. The drugs, when taken properly, is administered orally, but those who have come to abuse the drug tend to crush it up and administer it through the nasal cavity or injecting it intravenously . The purpose of administering the drug in an alternate form is to intensifies the high. The drug in it's original form is a time released medication, XR, which is meant to release a chemical effect off and on throughout a 24 hour period. Crushing and administering the pill forces the chemical release to be extinguished all at once, thus creating a "rush" or intensified euphoria.

Consumed by Addiction

Once someone has subjected themselves to snorting or injecting Oxycontin, it is not long before they become a slave this pea size pill. The person you once knew is no longer there. Their life is consumed to the hunt; the hunt for money, the hunt for the drug, the process in preparing the drug "especially if used intravenously" and the consumption of the drug. This little pill that once brought such feelings of euphoria, mental relaxation, and happiness, has now created a miserable, sad shell of a person who feels they have no control.

 At this point, they can easily progress toward using other dangerous drugs such as heroin. This happens a lot of the time especially with intravenous users. One of the major reasons an addict will trade in the prescription drugs for the street drugs is the cost. Heroin can be purchase for half the price of a 40mg oxycontin, while creating a high that is considered "twice as intence".

View the Detox by the Doctor "A kid detoxing from herion and pain pills"

By: The Doctors

Reality of Detox

Many people who do not understand addiction will ask "why don't they just stop?" If it were as easy as the question, they would. After years or even months of consuming this drug, your absolutely in a state of misery and worship. Personally, I knew a person who sadly went as far as commit suicide. He was so consumed by his addiction, the only way he though he could get out was to take his own life. The reason people so not stop is because they truly feel like they can't or have tried and failed over and over.

Withdrawals

The withdrawal are excruciating, some of the symptoms include ;irritability, pain, weakness, abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, nightmares, profuse sweating, chills, hot flashes, increased blood pressure, respiratory rate, or heart rate.These symptoms last for three to five days. The first three days are extremely intense, making it hard for many to complete detox. To me, a list of symptoms does little to give someone the insight into what these withdrawals are truly like. I wanted to introduce more of a personal description, to let loved ones know what they are truly going to be up against if they are considering helping a family member detox at home. Irritability is just a word, it's best described as screaming through the pain and at anyone near by, begging for someone to help or end it. Weakness to the point of, the inability to walk, abdominal cramps that keeps a person on the toilet or in a human ball. Nausea and anorexia, the person will not fell like eating and for some slight chance they do, it will come up. If there has been no food consumption, there will be little vomiting. Vomiting will consist mostly of stomach acids at the end of the first day and the second. Diarrhea, yes, there's no way to avoid it. Nightmares, will almost seem real. Someone once told me they saw the devil sitting at the end of their bed. I thought I saw a monster come up through the bed, it felt like it was trying to suffocate me, I couldn't breath and couldn't wake up. Profuse sweating, the sheets will become soping wet, to the point that they can be rung out. Chills and hot flashes, will reverse constantly, even attacking at the same time. The covers will flip on and off on and off. The person will fill like bugs are attaching or crawling over their flesh. To experience a could turkey detox is truley a torchure.

Due to the intensity of the detox, I suggest participating in a sleep detox, if financially able. Seeking psychiatric help through an inpatient detox center. Ask their opinion on supplying help with medication such as; Methadone or Suboxone.

The key is to avoid the possibility of become addicted all together. Opiate addiction is not a hard thing to accomplish. Parents, be aware, teens are discovering that they can easily get high at home. Lock up your medication, talk with your children's friends parents and make sure they are taking the same actions as you.