Oxycontin is a prescription pain medication that is part of the opiate family. Because it is an opiate it can be highly addictive medication. It is generally prescribed as a pain medication for back and neck pain for patients that have chronic conditions. Besides providing pain relief it also decreases anxiety, represses cough, causes euphoria, and mental relaxation. Even in its original form it can be highly addictive, however drug abuser also crush and snort the medication or even dilute it in water and inject it intravenously. This manipulation eliminates the time release mechanism and instead provides an instant sense of euphoria. This method produces a "high" that is similar to heroin use. Withdrawal symptoms of Oxycontin can be just as serious as heroin and other opiates.

Oxycontin is a depressant to the central nervous system. Using too much of this medication can have serious consequences including respiratory failure and death. Other overdose symptoms include confusion, clammy skin, loss of consciousness, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, reduced vision, nausea and vomiting, or even coma. Overdose is a life threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention. To avoid overdose, it is important to stop using Oxycontin with the help of medical professionals. While withdrawal from Oxycontin can be painful and frightening it could save your life.

Since users of this medication build up a tolerance, higher doses must be used to receive the same affect. This turns into a never ending cycle of addiction, withdrawal, and abuse. Withdrawal symptoms are similar to that one experiences with heroin and include nausea and vomiting, muscle aches and fatigue, tiredness, diarrhea, insomnia, depression, watery eyes and cough, hot and cold sweats, as well as heart palpitations, anxiety, and even depression. Because of the severity of withdrawal symptoms, individuals should go through detoxification under a doctor’s supervision or at a drug treatment center.

Oxycontin is prescribed to individuals for various reasons; almost all related to pain management. Therefore addiction can occur in all people in various social and economical situations. The elderly lady down the street can develop an addiction after receiving medication for a deteriorating knee or hip or other surgery. Or the mother who received this medication for back pain after being in a car accident. There are so many innocent individuals who cross the line between drug use and drug abuse. Anyone can become addicted to this pain medication causing them to shop around for different doctors to receive more medication.

If you or someone you know has an addiction, suggest they get help. Withdrawal from Oxycontin is an unpleasant process but it can be done. Drug abusers may not believe they have a problem, but they should be encouraged to get help from their doctor or a drug treatment program. The potential of overdose is high because users build up a tolerance. If nothing else works, try staging an intervention with the abuser, a drug counselor, and family or friends. With the proper help, you can overcome this addiction.