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Last Updated:
January 2nd, 2025
Oxycodone addiction
The opioid epidemic has affected countless lives, and many experts trace its origins back to oxycodone suddenly becoming widely available in 1995. In particular, critics believe that the FDA’s failure to check the addictive potential of OxyContin, a novel extended-release form of oxycodone, led to widespread abuse and sparked the crisis which has now engulfed North America and other parts of the world. Oxycodone addiction now affects millions of people worldwide, including in the UK, and once you are caught in its grips, it can be incredibly difficult to fight your way to freedom. Fortunately, effective help can help you overcome oxycodone addiction and take back control of your life.
What is oxycodone?
Oxycodone is a powerful prescription opioid analgesic that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It works by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, altering the way your brain perceives pain and creating a sense of euphoria. Oxycodone is often prescribed after surgery or for chronic pain conditions, and when taken as prescribed, it can be a highly effective pain management tool. Oxycodone is available in various forms, including liquid solutions, immediate-release and extended-release tablets and under different brand names, such as OxyContin, Percocet and Roxicodone.
Nonetheless, the euphoria-inducing properties and extremely addictive characteristics of oxycodone render it susceptible to misuse. Countless individuals initiate recreational use or self-medicate to cope with emotional or psychological distress. Such misuse of oxycodone, whether obtained without a proper prescription or consumed in non-prescribed methods (like crushing and snorting extended-release pills for immediate effects), significantly heightens the dangers of addiction, overdose, and severe health complications.