The Dangers of Oxycontin

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I had a very close friend; his name is Jeremy. He is only twenty-six years old. His life is fading fast. He had a home, a family, a long time girlfriend and a four year old son. Jeremy’s mom, brothers, aunts and uncles are all losing touch with him. He had a great job with insurance, benefits and job security. He was fired a few months ago. He has sold his car, personal items, furniture and things you wouldn’t even imagine for fast cash. Jeremy begs and barrows money from what family and friends he has left to only end the relationship with them because he knows he will never pay them back. What has made his life this way? Hello my name is Erica Altier and I am going to inform you on the dangers of Oxycontin or Oxycodone Hydrochloride. Some people, most people call it “today’s heroin”. I believe it is only a matter of time before every one of us is dealing with a loved one or a close friend who is dealing with the addiction of Oxycontin.

What is all the negative hype on Oxycontin? For starters, Oxycontin is a prescribed Schedule Two drug under the controlled Substance Act because of its high tendency to cause dependence and abuse. Oxycontin was introduced by Perdue Pharma based out of Connecticut in 1996. It was designed to be a twelve hour time release form of narcotic to meet the needs of around the clock pain control. The bonding agent actually measures the level of Oxycodone in the blood, releasing more or less painkiller as needed. It was said to be a breakthrough, high potency pain reliever for chronic pain and cancer. Ironically, out of 6.5 million Oxycontin prescriptions in the United States during 2000, cancer specialists accounted for only three percent.

Oxycontin is a very addictive narcotic. The DEA says that no prescription drug in the last twenty years has been so widely abused after its introduction into the marketplace. The way an abuser takes Oxycontin is chewing, snorting or dissolving the tablets in water and injecting. By doing this the user will get a rapid release and absorption of Oxycodone, resulting in a warm, euphoric rush, intensifying until reaching a phase in which everything is relaxed. The user will be energetic and talkative, eventually becoming very relaxed and content. Some abusers will take large doses and have slightly slurred speech, impaired coordination, and in an even higher dose the user will nod in and out of consciousness.

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