Percocet Addiction Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Percocets “The Prescription Opioid”

Made from a combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen, Percocet is a powerful pain medication intended for relieving moderate to severe pain. It is only available legally with a prescription and primarily given to patients dealing with serious injury, surgery or a dental procedure.

When taken in higher doses, Percocet leaves users with a euphoric high because of its main ingredient oxycodone. This ingredient is an opioid, and by extension Percocet is also considered an opioid, serving as a major contributor of the United States opioid crisis. When a person uses the drug, they should always do so with caution, following their doctor’s very specific instructions. By doing so, they give themselves the best chance of avoiding the development of an addiction.

If left untreated, an opioid use disorder can easily take hold of one’s life, destroying everything they hold dear. For this reason, it is crucial to seek help from a qualified rehabilitation center to break free from addiction and give the individual the best chance toward a life…recovered.  

If you or a loved one is in need of drug and alcohol treatment services, please contact Brookdale today at 855-575-1292 to begin the admissions process.

What is Percocet?

As an opioid, Percocet is a highly addictive brand name medication that is an effective pain management tool, when used properly. This is largely due to its main ingredient, which produces most of these effects. Its other main ingredient is acetaminophen, which is most commonly known by its brand name Tylenol. Together, the two substances work together to mitigate pain in different ways, amplifying each other’s effects and providing an effective barrier against moderate to severe pain.

Percocet joined the drug market in the 1990s and quickly joined the list of opioid medications that were problematic due to how addictive they could be. Thanks to the oxycodone, it is even possible for patients to develop an addiction while following their doctor’s instructions, although these instances are minimal in comparison to recreational use. Those who choose to take Percocet recreationally, do so because of the euphoric high it creates when taken in large quantities. Unfortunately, when taking Percocet in this way it greatly increases the risk of addiction and accidental overdose.

The drug is only available in pill form and each will have a number imprint stating the milligram dosage it contains. Endo Pharmaceuticals owns the drug and their Percocet pills will either be pink, blue, peach or yellow, depending on the amount of oxycodone. Pink pills have the lowest quantities (2.5 mg), meanwhile yellow pills have the highest (10 mg). Generic forms of Percocet will vary in their appearance.

When taken for recreational use, the pills may be swallowed normally, chewed, or crushed into a powder that is then snorted or mixed with a liquid for intravenous use. These alternative methods are intended to speed up the amount of time it takes to enter the bloodstream and for the drug to take effect.

It is important to keep in mind that there is no “complete” list for street names because new ones are constantly being developed.

How Addictive is Percocet?

Due to its opioid component, Percocet presents a strong risk for addiction and is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. This is the second most dangerous category and its inclusion in it points to the drug’s high risk while acknowledging its valuable medicinal uses. The amount of time it takes to develop a substance use disorder varies for every person, but for those that are more prone to addiction can easily form a dependence while under a doctor’s care.

The reason that Percocet is so risky stems from the oxycodone in it. As an opioid, it blocks out pain by releasing chemicals that prompt the brain to create a natural pleasure chemical called dopamine. Taken in heavy doses, this causes a flood of dopamine that overwhelms the central nervous system and causes the euphoric high that the drug is known for. When this happens repeatedly, the body adapts itself to more effectively cope with the wave of dopamine so it will not be overwhelmed. This is called developing a tolerance, causing a user to take ever increasing amounts of Percocet to experience the same results.

Overtime, this alters both the body and the brain, causing them to depend on the presence of the drug (and its resulting dopamine) to function normally. When this occurs, it is said that the user has developed a dependence on the drug, therefore if they stop use abruptly, they will begin to experience symptoms of withdrawal. Withdrawal is a main reason why opioid addiction is so difficult to break away from, because it trains the user to take the drug habitually as if it were a survival mechanism.

Some of the common physical and psychological symptoms to watch for include:

Demographics and Statistics

In far too many cases, people that use Percocet have a belief that addiction only happens to “other” people and could not possibly happen to them. This could not be farther from the truth. Percocet is a risk to every person that takes it and impacts people of all demographics.

Learning the statistics related to Percocet and other similar opioids can help to shatter this unrealistic expectation while deepening a person’s understanding of the drug, the risks associated with it, and its prevalence in society. A few valuable facts worth knowing are that:

• From 1991 to 2014, the number of opioid prescriptions in the United States grew from 76 million a year to around 240 million a year
• Nearly 3,900 people begin using prescription opioids like Percocet recreationally each day
• Percocet usually takes 3-4 days to leave a person’s system
• Percocet is considered a gateway drug to heroin

Treatment

In the later stages of an addiction, attempting to quit Percocet is an incredibly difficult and potentially dangerous challenge thanks to the withdrawal symptoms associated with it. Nevertheless, being diagnosed with a substance use disorder does not mean your life is over. With the proper care and attention from a licensed drug and alcohol rehab center, it is possible to find recovery in the safest, most effective way possible.

If someone is struggling from an opioid use disorder, primarily a Percocet addiction, treatment often begins with a process known as detoxification. During this level of care, medical personnel will work tirelessly to create comprehensive detox protocols to aid in the process of removing all addictive substances from the individual’s body. This step often poses great discomfort for the patient, resulting in withdrawal symptoms that may be painful and potentially dangerous, if not handled properly. However, when undergoing detox in a medical setting, patients can rest assured knowing they are receiving essential tools to help mitigate discomfort, pain and potentially harmful side effects. Various protocols are often utilized during this stage of care, including clinical approaches, holistic therapies, and medication when appropriate.

Once a patient has been medically cleared, they can move to residential treatment where they will work closely with various clinicians and support staff. This phase of care is essential to continued sobriety, as it allows the individual to begin addressing factors and influences that have contributed to their disease, as well as healthy coping mechanisms to confront obstacles in the future. Additionally, the patient will work with their primary counselor to develop a comprehensive aftercare plan that is most conducive to their ongoing recovery efforts. Some of the therapeutic modalities patients can expect during residential treatment include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), family education, recreational therapy, holistic approaches, relapse prevention, aftercare support and 12-Step integration.

Get Help Today for Percocet Addiction

If you or a loved one is suffering from an opioid use disorder, please do not waste another minute. As a major contributor to the opioid epidemic in America, a Percocet addiction should not be taken lightly. The time to get help is NOW and it begins with a phone call to our trusted Admissions Specialists.

There is hope for a life…recovered. Let us show you the way by calling 855-575-1292 today.