Oxycodone is an opioid painkiller that is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. While it can be an effective medication when used properly, oxycodone also comes with a high risk of addiction. Recognizing the signs of oxycodone addiction early is important for getting help before the addiction worsens. Here are some of the key signs that may indicate an oxycodone addiction.
Building Tolerance and Taking Higher Doses
One of the clearest signs of oxycodone addiction is needing more and more of the drug to get the same pain-relieving effects. People develop a tolerance when the brain gets used to the medication, requiring higher doses to activate the same degree of opioid receptors. If someone finds themselves taking more oxycodone without a doctor’s approval, it likely means a tolerance and dependence have developed. Taking dangerously high doses of oxycodone puts the individual at high risk of overdose.
Inability to Cut Down or Quit
When oxycodone use gets out of control, the person may want to quit but finds themselves unable to do so successfully. They may intend to take a smaller dose or abstain for a day but are overwhelmed by withdrawal symptoms or cravings. The compulsion to use oxycodone takes over, despite attempts to control the intake. Addicts often go on binges, taking the drug continuously for days, unable to stop despite resolving to quit. The oxycodone essentially hijacks the brain’s reward and motivation circuits.
Obsession with Obtaining Oxycodone
Individuals addicted to oxycodone become obsessed with how to get more of the drug. They devote time and energy to figuring out how to find and afford oxycodone, often going to great lengths to get it. Some signs of obsession over obtaining oxycodone include doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions, exaggerating pain symptoms to get higher doses, buying pills illegally off the street, stealing money or valuables to buy oxycodone, and spending large sums of cash on the drug.
Neglecting Other Aspects of Life
As oxycodone addiction progresses, it can take over a person’s life. Previously important activities like work, school, hobbies, exercising and socializing often fall by the wayside. Relationships suffer as the user becomes withdrawn and isolates themselves, focused solely on using oxycodone. Work or school performance declines due to oxycodone abuse and withdrawal interfering with concentration. Only activities revolving around getting and using the drug matter, while everything else loses significance.
Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms
When addicted to oxycodone, stopping the drug leads to experiencing withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, sweating, muscle aches, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cravings. The unpleasant withdrawal syndrome usually motivates the addicted individual to resume using oxycodone, perpetuating the addiction. Many addicts will go through withdrawal repeatedly, trying unsuccessfully to quit on their own. The fact that oxycodone must be taken regularly just to avoid withdrawals is a telltale sign of addiction, which is best treated in a rehab clinic.
Recognizing the signs of oxycodone addiction early is critical for getting help. Left untreated, oxycodone addiction can ruin lives and even turn deadly from overdose. However, with professional treatment and support, recovery is possible. The first step is admitting there is a problem and seeking assistance. Overcoming oxycodone addiction requires commitment, but lives can be turned around.
