Dramatic Effects of Oxycontin Addiction

The effects from oxycontin addiction can be dramatic. Unfortunately when addicted, few are positive. While there are individuals who are able to take the drug as prescribed, there is a high propensity to develop an addiction. Addiction to oxycontin, takes its toll on a person emotionally and physically.

If a person begins taking oxycontin for pain, odds are they are experiencing some degree of depression. They may be depressed because they feel isolated, lonely, angry and scared. While the pain might be present, many people find themselves taking the oxycontin to offset the feelings listed above. As the oxycontin use increases, the pain may diminish a bit but more importantly, the individual doesn't have to cope with those feelings because they are numb. Unfortunately, by this time they have begun to experience the negative effects of oxycontin addiction. People have difficulty concentrating, feel even more depressed, crave the drug and will do almost anything to get more of oxycontin.

Secondly, like morphine, Demerol or Dilaudid, oxycontin blocks pain messages to the brain and central nervous system. They also tend to increase the amount of dopamine in the brain, which allows us to feel pleasure. As people continue to use more oxycontin, they expect to feel even more pleasure, but as they continue to abuse the drug a tolerance develops. This means it takes more of the oxycontin to produce the same effect. In an effort to achieve the same "high" they originally experienced, coupled with tolerance, an oxycontin overdose may occur. In many cases, respiratory failure is seen as the cause for death. The respiratory system is so slowed due to the vast amount of oxycontin; a person's system begins to just shut down.

Whether a person started taking oxycontin to alleviate physical or emotional pain, one thing becomes clear to them early on. They can not live without the oxycontin. They constantly think about the oxycontin, where to get the oxycontin and how they will use the oxycontin. Once this obsessive thinking sets in, along with the actual craving, a person is addicted.