Thursday, January 31, 2013

Pick Your Poison


Oxycodone 
is in the class of medications called opiate analgesics or narcotics. It works by altering the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain (Oxycodone, 2011).

Medical Use:     
                                                             http://oxycodoneabuse.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/020509073138_oxycodone1.jpg
Oxycodone can be prescribed by a doctor and, when used properly, provides relief to those suffering from serious pain or injury. Oxycodone comes as a liquid solution that can be injected, tablets, capsules, and long-acting release tablets that are called OxyContin, which are taken by mouth (Oxycodone, 2011).

History of the Drug:
      Oxycodone was developed in Germany in 1916. It was designed to be a superior medication compared to other opiate analgesics like heroin, codeine, and morphine. Many people were becoming addicted to heroin and were experiencing extreme symptoms from abuse of other painkillers. 
      Oxycodone came to the United States in 1939, but it wasn’t until Purdue Pharmaceutical Company began manufacturing OxyContin in 1996 that it became widely used. By 2001, it was the best selling narcotic pain reliever in the country. The drug was widely available, and those who had extra pills from their prescriptions found they could sell them for a big profit. This was the start of the prescription drug abuse problem we have today. 
      In 2007, Purdue Pharmaceuticals was facing lawsuits for OxyContin due to their forceful marketing practices. Purdue also faced charges stating that they misbranded the drug in order to convince doctors and users that it did not have much potential for abuse or addiction.
OxyContin is still a very popular prescription drug today because of the ruthless marketing practices of the manufacturer, despite the troubles it has produced (The history of, 2010).


The Side Effects:

Because oxycodone can be habit-forming, users should not take a higher dose, take it more frequently, or take it for a lengthier amount of time than prescribed by their doctor. Users should not stop taking oxycodone suddenly. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. All side effects of the drug are depicted in this image (Difference between oxycontin, 2011).



 
The prevalence of the Drug in the United States:

At that time the drug was created, no one thought this new drug would become one of the most widely used and abused prescription drugs ever (Oxycodone addiction symptoms, 2013). 



Sanctions for Misuse or Abuse of the Drug:

There are various laws for oxycodone offenses. Based on New Jersey’s laws, possession of up to 4 pills of oxycodone is a Fourth Degree Crime; possession of between 5 and 99 tablets is a Third Degree Crime; and possessing 100 or more pills is a Second Degree Crime. A Fourth Degree could result in an individual spending up to 18 months in jail. A Third Degree involves up to 5 years in jail and also carries up to $200,000 in fines. A Second Degree, the most serious oxycodone charge, can result in up to 10 years in jail as well as up to $300,000 in fines. Illegal use of oxycodone could have some very serious consequences for an individual who is caught (Oxycodone offenses, 2013).

Addiction Treatment for Oxycodone Abuse:

      Treatment programs for oxycodone abuse focus on therapy and counseling to help addicts regain control of their lives. Many treatment facilities for oxycodone addiction focus on individuals' needs to create personal plans of action. Treatments include relapse preventions, Dual Diagnosis treatment, journaling groups, post-traumatic stress disorder counseling and intensive family therapy. While treatment often involves several different types of counseling, the first step of most programs is detox. Detox involves going through a controlled withdrawal from the drug, monitored by professionals.  The process allows the body to get rid of the drug from the body’s system (Oxycodone addiction symptoms, 2013).
 
My Thoughts:

It is very ironic to see that a drug was created to replace other addictive pain relievers, and this drug turned out to be more addictive than all of the others. How is this even possible? It is also troubling to see that such an addictive drug is still on the market and so easy to obtain. I’m glad to see that the law strictly enforces abuse of this drug and that many treatment options are available. However, this drug currently affects many Americans, and I feel as though not enough has been done to solve the problems oxycodone has caused.



 


References:

Difference between oxycontin and oxycodone. (2011, September 06). Retrieved
from http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-oxycontin-and-oxycodone/

Oxycodone. (2011, October 15). Retrieved from 
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682132.html

Oxycodone addiction symptoms, signs and treatment. (2013). Retrieved from
 http://www.rehabinfo.net/oxycodone-addiction/

Oxycodone offenses. (2013). Retrieved from
 http://www.newjerseycriminallawattorney.com/CM/DrugCrimes/OxycodonePossession-IntentToDistribute-Forgery-Fraud.asp

The history of oxycontin. (2010, January 09). Retrieved from 
http://www.treatmentsolutions.com/the-history-of-oxycontin/
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