Oxycontin Addiction: Oxycontin is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high
pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, neuralgia,
arthritis, lower back pain and pain associated with cancer. It contains oxycodone,
an opium derivative and is produced in a time released tablet. Oxycontin commonly
referred to as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton and kicker, was introduced in 1996 and has
had a rapid escalation of abuse. The tablets can be chewed, crushed and snorted
like cocaine, crushed and dissolved in water and then injected like heroin. The
most serious side effect is respiratory depression, particularly dangerous for
the elderly. Oxycontin
addiction and demand has resulted in pharmacy robberies and forged
prescriptions. The estimated number of people aged 12 or older with an oxycontin
addiction has increased from 1.9 million in 2002, to 3.1 million in 2004.
The largest increase occurred among young adults aged 18 to 25.Drug Rehabilitation Drug Rehabilitation
is an umbrella term for a variety of processes by which a person addicted to a
drug stops using that drug. These processes can vary from cold turkey to the use
of substitute drugs which do not have the same action upon the state of consciousness
as the original drug to which the person was addicted.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome » May 18th 2007
As we have seen so far addiction is a complex process that includes changes that occur in the neurochemistry of the person who is addicted. During early recovery the neurological and biological effects of addiction often manifest themselves as a complex of symptoms. These symptoms are...tags: Addiction Models comments: 7
Stages of Change for Addiction, Treatment and Rehabilitation » May 17th 2007
Prochaska & DiClemente developed a stages of change model that identifies 5 progressive stages of change as they specifically apply to overcoming addictions.
Precontemplation - the stage where the individual is not contemplating changing any of their addictive behaviors. This stage is...tags: Addiction Models comments: 7
Stages of Addiction » May 14th 2007
Stages of Addiction
While genetics and neurochemistry assuredly play important roles in addiction the experience of addiction from the addict’s perspective is not at the genetic or neurochemical level.
The experience of addiction is progressive. At first he individual may...tags: Addiction Models comments: 5
Pharmacological Interventions » May 11th 2007
Pharmacological Interventions
So far we have seen that addiction is a complex subject that encompasses the fields of genetics and neurophysiology. Neurochemistry also plays a very significant role in addiction. Some of the newer psychopharmacological and physical aversion approaches to...tags: Addiction Models comments: 0
The Experiences of Addiction » May 10th 2007
The experiences of addiction.
While current research shows that genetics (see the mu-opioid blog entry) and brain physiology (see the amygdala blog entry) play an important role in addiction neither of these third order factors are experienced by the individual who is addicted. The persons...tags: Addiction Models comments: 2
Genetic Predisposition » May 8th 2007
Genetic Predisposition
One of the promising emerging models of addiction comes form the burgeoning field of genetic research. One of the more recent finings for example has clearly linked to the mu-opioid gene to alcohol, smoking and drug addiction. Researchers at University of South...tags: Addiction Models comments: 2
Addiction Models » May 7th 2007
Addiction is often defined as continuing the same negative behaviors despite the consequences or the risks involved. The question is why?
Why do people continue their addictions in spite of negative consequences?
The answers are not simple. One of the purposes of this blog is to explore the...tags: Addiction Models comments: 2