The U.S. Department of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently reported that the recreational use of OxyContin has become a significant problem in recent years. The abuse of this drug affects people of all ages, including adolescents. OxyContin is an opioid, and as such is a powerful and highly addictive pain reliever.
OxyContin is the brand name of a time released formula of oxycodone and it is produced by Purdue Pharma, a privately held pharmaceutical company.
Recreational use often means the drug is injected or inhaled in powder form to intensify its euphoric effect. At the same time, the danger to the user also increases. Not only is this drug powerful, it is highly addictive. Those users who ingest medium to high doses may experience euphoria, nausea, depressed respiration and sleepiness. Higher doses can also cause seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, cardiac arrest and clammy skin. If the dose is high enough it can depress respiration to a fatal level, especially if it is combined with alcohol or another depressant.
Addiction is both physical and psychological and the withdrawal is intense. Symptoms of withdrawal may include cold sweats, insomnia, severe diarrhea, clinical depression, abnormal body temps, immobility, abnormal heart beat and suicidal ideation.
OxyContin is synthesized from the opium derivative thebaine. Thebaine is similar to codeine in some respects but it is more powerful and potentially addictive. These drugs were intended to be taken orally and be time released which dilutes the effect of the drug to a safe level. Crushing the tablets and snorting it is one method an addict will use. They can also mix it with water and inject it. ‘Mainlining’ the crushed drug negates the time release feature while intensifing the high. This also increases the potential health risks associated with this type of use.
If you, or someone you know, are addicted to OxyContin, there is help available. Make the call today, to A Better Tomorrow.
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/
Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ABTomorrow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ABTomorrow
Showing posts with label OxyContin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OxyContin. Show all posts
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Wide World of Drugs
With so many possible drugs available today, is it any wonder that 1 in every 12 people has had, is having or will have a problem/addiction. Obviously there is wide variety of street drugs. However, often overlooked is the misuse/abuse of prescription drugs, which, according to recent studies, has become an extreme danger throughout society. As a matter of information, the material below is a basic list of drugs that are commonly being abused all of which can become physically and/or emotionally addicting and all of which may lead to medical complications and withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol
Comes in many forms such as beer, wine and hard liquor.
Obviously, alcohol is the most readily available drug and it ranks third in the United States as a cause of death. It is classified as a depressant and can negatively impact the brain, vision, hearing and muscle coordination. Alcoholism is impacting millions of Americans and their families each and every day, and among teenagers and college students, binge drinking has reached near epidemic proportions.
Marijuana
Also known as 'pot', 'weed', 'grass' and can come in other forms such as 'hashish' or 'hash'.
It's not the marijuana of the 60s and 70s any more. Its potency has increased by nearly 700 percent over the years. It can produce effects on the nervous system such as loss of energy, decreased coordination, loss of memory and questionable judgment or reasoning.
Heroin
Also known as 'smack', 'horse', 'H', 'tar' and 'China White', and sometime misspelled as "heron" and "heroine."
In its street version, this drug has been used for centuries to promote a sense of well being and to relieve pain. However, it also creates a very fast physical */dependency/* that is extremely difficult to break. From a pharmaceutical standpoint, synthetically produced opiates are manufactured primarily as pain relievers. Used judiciously, they have value. Abused, and they become just as dangerous as their street cousin heroin. Some of the more common prescription drugs in this category are Morphine, */Oxycontin/*, Vicodin, */Lortab/Loratab, Dilaudid, Darvon, Percocet, Percodan, Demerol, Hydrocodone/* and */Codine/Codeine/*. Methadone has also been used as a pain reliever and as a medication to ease withdrawal symptoms from heroin. However, there are some newer alternatives such as buprenorphine and soboxin (which is a combination of buprenorphine and moloxin to prevent misuse) that have been found to be quite effective without some of the drawbacks of methadone.
Cocaine
Also known as 'coke', 'blow', 'powder', 'snow' and 'nose' candy' or, in the case of 'crack', 'rock' or 'base'.
Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs available today. It offers an intense immediate rush lasting for 15 to 30 minutes with lesser euphoria for a few hours. However, as tolerance builds, more and more cocaine or switching to crack is needed to sustain the result. Negative complications from cocaine use are quite severe and can include respiratory problems, loss of ambition and efficiency, and time distortion. In addition, chronic use can result in near permanent brain impairment.
Methamphetamine Amphetamines
Also known as 'speed', 'meth', 'crystal', 'crank', 'uppers' and 'bennies'.
Pharmaceutical versions include Ritalin, Dexedrine and Cylert. These are very potent stimulants often used by people who want to stay awake and active for extended periods of time. Other than the pharmaceuticals, which can also lead to problems, meth is usually cooked in home-based laboratories with devastating results on the end user. The chemicals are commonly available in grocery and drug stores. However, when combined to make meth, they are quite volatile and can lead to explosions. The residue is also very dangerous and hazardous to the health of those who are exposed. Meth is quite addictive and those who are cut off from their supply can become violent and paranoid.
Sedatives Benzodiazepine
Also known as 'yellow jackets', 'ludes', roofies and reds and include those pharmaceutical drugs such as barbiturates and tranquilizers such as Xanax, Librium, Ativan and Valium among others.
Because of the availability of these drugs through prescription, these drugs are very easily abused, usually over a long period of time. As a result, the long-term, negative implications can be quite severe.
Club Drugs
Including 'Ecstasy' (also known as 'E', 'extasy', 'X, 'XTC' and essence');
'GHB' (also known as 'liquid ecstasy' and 'G'); 'Ketamine' (also known as 'K', 'Kat', 'Special K' and 'Vitamin K'); 'PCP' (also known as 'Angel Dust');
and 'LSD' (also known as 'acid').
Ecstasy combines the properties of methamphetamine and mescaline offering not only a rush, but also hallucinogenic qualities. Heavy doses can have wide ranging negative consequences. GHB and Rohypnolare commonly used to relax the user. However, they are often used for the purpose of gaining submission over the user without their knowledge, thus resulting in the name 'Date Rape drugs'. A large enough dose of GHB can also result in coma and death. Ketamine and PCP are veterinary anesthetics. Large enough doses can cause delirium, high blood pressure, amnesia and respiratory problems as well as a tendency toward violence. LSD was the hallucinogenic drug of choice in the 70s and is still readily available. Its use often results in delusions and a total loss of reality. It can also cause the user to suffer delusional flashbacks long after the last dose was taken.
Alcohol
Comes in many forms such as beer, wine and hard liquor.
Obviously, alcohol is the most readily available drug and it ranks third in the United States as a cause of death. It is classified as a depressant and can negatively impact the brain, vision, hearing and muscle coordination. Alcoholism is impacting millions of Americans and their families each and every day, and among teenagers and college students, binge drinking has reached near epidemic proportions.
Marijuana
Also known as 'pot', 'weed', 'grass' and can come in other forms such as 'hashish' or 'hash'.
It's not the marijuana of the 60s and 70s any more. Its potency has increased by nearly 700 percent over the years. It can produce effects on the nervous system such as loss of energy, decreased coordination, loss of memory and questionable judgment or reasoning.
Heroin
Also known as 'smack', 'horse', 'H', 'tar' and 'China White', and sometime misspelled as "heron" and "heroine."
In its street version, this drug has been used for centuries to promote a sense of well being and to relieve pain. However, it also creates a very fast physical */dependency/* that is extremely difficult to break. From a pharmaceutical standpoint, synthetically produced opiates are manufactured primarily as pain relievers. Used judiciously, they have value. Abused, and they become just as dangerous as their street cousin heroin. Some of the more common prescription drugs in this category are Morphine, */Oxycontin/*, Vicodin, */Lortab/Loratab, Dilaudid, Darvon, Percocet, Percodan, Demerol, Hydrocodone/* and */Codine/Codeine/*. Methadone has also been used as a pain reliever and as a medication to ease withdrawal symptoms from heroin. However, there are some newer alternatives such as buprenorphine and soboxin (which is a combination of buprenorphine and moloxin to prevent misuse) that have been found to be quite effective without some of the drawbacks of methadone.
Cocaine
Also known as 'coke', 'blow', 'powder', 'snow' and 'nose' candy' or, in the case of 'crack', 'rock' or 'base'.
Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs available today. It offers an intense immediate rush lasting for 15 to 30 minutes with lesser euphoria for a few hours. However, as tolerance builds, more and more cocaine or switching to crack is needed to sustain the result. Negative complications from cocaine use are quite severe and can include respiratory problems, loss of ambition and efficiency, and time distortion. In addition, chronic use can result in near permanent brain impairment.
Methamphetamine Amphetamines
Also known as 'speed', 'meth', 'crystal', 'crank', 'uppers' and 'bennies'.
Pharmaceutical versions include Ritalin, Dexedrine and Cylert. These are very potent stimulants often used by people who want to stay awake and active for extended periods of time. Other than the pharmaceuticals, which can also lead to problems, meth is usually cooked in home-based laboratories with devastating results on the end user. The chemicals are commonly available in grocery and drug stores. However, when combined to make meth, they are quite volatile and can lead to explosions. The residue is also very dangerous and hazardous to the health of those who are exposed. Meth is quite addictive and those who are cut off from their supply can become violent and paranoid.
Sedatives Benzodiazepine
Also known as 'yellow jackets', 'ludes', roofies and reds and include those pharmaceutical drugs such as barbiturates and tranquilizers such as Xanax, Librium, Ativan and Valium among others.
Because of the availability of these drugs through prescription, these drugs are very easily abused, usually over a long period of time. As a result, the long-term, negative implications can be quite severe.
Club Drugs
Including 'Ecstasy' (also known as 'E', 'extasy', 'X, 'XTC' and essence');
'GHB' (also known as 'liquid ecstasy' and 'G'); 'Ketamine' (also known as 'K', 'Kat', 'Special K' and 'Vitamin K'); 'PCP' (also known as 'Angel Dust');
and 'LSD' (also known as 'acid').
Ecstasy combines the properties of methamphetamine and mescaline offering not only a rush, but also hallucinogenic qualities. Heavy doses can have wide ranging negative consequences. GHB and Rohypnolare commonly used to relax the user. However, they are often used for the purpose of gaining submission over the user without their knowledge, thus resulting in the name 'Date Rape drugs'. A large enough dose of GHB can also result in coma and death. Ketamine and PCP are veterinary anesthetics. Large enough doses can cause delirium, high blood pressure, amnesia and respiratory problems as well as a tendency toward violence. LSD was the hallucinogenic drug of choice in the 70s and is still readily available. Its use often results in delusions and a total loss of reality. It can also cause the user to suffer delusional flashbacks long after the last dose was taken.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
All American Girl to “Heroin Junkie” to Recovery to Inspiration
Jerrod Menz NEWS RELEASE
(800) 757-9867
jerrod@abttc.com
ALL AMERICAN GIRL WHO BECAME A “HEROIN JUNKIE” SHARES HER
HER STORY OF RECOVERY TO INSPIRE OTHER ADDICTS TO GET HELP
Jennifer Hood, 23, who completed her treatment at A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc. in Murrieta, Calif., shared a happy ending to her addiction story last week on “The Steve Wilkos Show”
MURRIETA, Calif., March 24, 2009 – Jennifer Hood’s nightmare with drugs started at age 18, when her boyfriend introduced her to OxyContin, a prescription painkiller known for its addictive qualities.
She quickly got hooked, and by the time she was 20, she started taking heroin and her life spiraled out of control. In fact, by the time the Virginia native landed on the syndicated Steve Wilkos Show last November, she was homeless and prostituting herself.
“I was an all-American girl who turned into a homeless, heroin junkie,” Hood, 23, recalled. “I was my father’s nightmare. I built walls around myself to keep everyone who loved me at a distance.”
But after Hood shared her story with a national television audience, The Steve Wilkos Show referred her to A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center in Murrieta, Calif., which provided her with three months of residential treatment, interrupting her cycle of drug dependence and giving her the tools to rebuild her life.
“A Better Tomorrow changed my life completely,” Hood said. “I went from having low self esteem to feeling better about myself and realizing that there is another life out there for me if I want to pursue it. I now have real friends who want to see me do well and I’ve repaired my relationships with my family.”
Hood said she will spend several months in a sober living facility and plans to return to complete her studies in college and pursue a career as a counselor. “I didn’t (share my story last week) for the air time,” Hood said. “I did it to help inspire other addicts to get help so that their life doesn’t become what mine used to be.”
Based in Murrieta, Calif., A Better Tomorrow regularly treats addicts that have appeared on The Steve Wilkos Show. The clinic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment centers in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jerrod Menz at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic's website at http://www.abttc.com/.
(800) 757-9867
jerrod@abttc.com
ALL AMERICAN GIRL WHO BECAME A “HEROIN JUNKIE” SHARES HER
HER STORY OF RECOVERY TO INSPIRE OTHER ADDICTS TO GET HELP
Jennifer Hood, 23, who completed her treatment at A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc. in Murrieta, Calif., shared a happy ending to her addiction story last week on “The Steve Wilkos Show”
MURRIETA, Calif., March 24, 2009 – Jennifer Hood’s nightmare with drugs started at age 18, when her boyfriend introduced her to OxyContin, a prescription painkiller known for its addictive qualities.
She quickly got hooked, and by the time she was 20, she started taking heroin and her life spiraled out of control. In fact, by the time the Virginia native landed on the syndicated Steve Wilkos Show last November, she was homeless and prostituting herself.
“I was an all-American girl who turned into a homeless, heroin junkie,” Hood, 23, recalled. “I was my father’s nightmare. I built walls around myself to keep everyone who loved me at a distance.”
But after Hood shared her story with a national television audience, The Steve Wilkos Show referred her to A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center in Murrieta, Calif., which provided her with three months of residential treatment, interrupting her cycle of drug dependence and giving her the tools to rebuild her life.
“A Better Tomorrow changed my life completely,” Hood said. “I went from having low self esteem to feeling better about myself and realizing that there is another life out there for me if I want to pursue it. I now have real friends who want to see me do well and I’ve repaired my relationships with my family.”
Hood said she will spend several months in a sober living facility and plans to return to complete her studies in college and pursue a career as a counselor. “I didn’t (share my story last week) for the air time,” Hood said. “I did it to help inspire other addicts to get help so that their life doesn’t become what mine used to be.”
Based in Murrieta, Calif., A Better Tomorrow regularly treats addicts that have appeared on The Steve Wilkos Show. The clinic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment centers in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jerrod Menz at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic's website at http://www.abttc.com/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
