Each day as one turns on the news, they are bombarded with the newest stories of death caused by drug overdoses. Many of these overdoses are associated with well-known drugs, such as heroin or cocaine. What is not realized is that there are many other drugs that can become addictive that are not as well known as those previously mentioned. One such drug is oxycodone.
Oxycodone is a strong opioid analgeic drug, known to most simply as a painkiller. It is primarily used in the management of pain after surgeries. (1) It is rather potent and is therefore used in situations that involve moderate to chronic pain, as in the case of back pain. Because of the strength of oxycodone, it is usually recommended for use over the span of a couple weeks.
How can such an efficacious drug be abused? The answer relies on oxycodone’s comparison to related drugs, such as morphine. Morphine is a powerful drug that gives an abuser long-lasting effects including mood swings. Oxycodone has some euphoric effects, but nowhere near the level of morphine. Oxycodone also relieves restlessness and gives the user a pleasant experience, all characteristics of its drug family, the opioids. (1) Abusers feel as if the acquiring of the drug is more important than the drug itself. Since oxycodone’s properties are similar to those of the more high-duty opioids and the drug itself is more accessible, it is pretty much common sense that people are going to start abusing the drug, even if it is not the most powerful drug in existence. The phrase “the more drug the better” is engraved in their minds. What these individuals do not realize is that there are an array of side effects that come with the abuse of the drug, some of which can prove fatal.
The range of side effects associated with oxycodone is fairly large. The problem with abusers is that they are going to be more prone to the effects because of their more expansive intake of the drug. The less serious side effects include sweating,...