Percocet Abuse and Recovery

In 2012, there were 23.9 million people in America who needed specialized treatment for their drug or alcohol abuse problems, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Sadly, only a scant one percent of them received the help they needed that year. A significant portion of these addicts and abusers are stuck deep within the trenches of prescription drugs. In fact, the Foundation for a Drug-Free World notes that there are more than 15 million people abusing prescription medications, including Percocet, in the United States.

Prescription Pandemic

prescription drugsAmong persons over the age of 64, Medscape notes that 20 percent of them take prescription pain relievers frequently throughout the week and 18 percent of people in the same age group struggling with persistent pain are abusing their medications, if not entirely addicted to them. Despite the fact that US citizens account for only five percent of the world’s populace, America uses 75 percent of all prescription drugs on the planet, per CBS News.

More than 475,000 people were treated in emergency departments across the nation in 2009 for issues resulting from the abuse or misuse of prescription painkillers, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A year later, in 2010, an alarming 67.8 percent of all patients treated at hospitals for drug overdose involved prescription opioid pain relievers, according to Medical Daily. The CDC also notes that 17,000 individuals lost their lives to an overdose of opioid pain relievers in 2011. Furthermore, men are three times more likely to die from opioid painkillers than females, per the CDC.

The Popularity of Percocet

Percocet is a combination of acetaminophen — commonly known by its brand name of Tylenol — and oxycodone, an opioid pain reliever. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. reports that 44.7 percent of the 3,520 people analyzed in one study preferred oxycodone over hydrocodone, the other most popular opioid pain medication derivative.

The Washington Post reports that 20.8 percent of people aged 12 or older across America have used a prescription drug without a medical need; that’s about 52 million people. Among youths, 2,500 of individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 abuse a prescription pain medication for the first time each day, per Medical Daily.

Mainly prescribed in tablet form, Percocet can be dissolved into a liquid solution suitable for injecting. Percocet abusers also often crush the tablet form of the drug and snort it. This method of ingestion serves to increase the effects of the drug and disperse it to the bloodstream more quickly than if ingested orally.

Symptoms of Dependency

The following symptoms of prescription drug abuse and addiction serve as a good baseline for what most people experience when involved in Percocet abuse. If any of these symptoms resonate with you, it’s time to ask for help.

  • You have a preoccupation with securing and using your Percocet supply.
  • You participate in doctor shopping to maintain an adequate drug supply.
  • When you’ve abstained from using Percocet for too long, you begin to experience symptoms of withdrawal.
  • You use the drug in secret, keeping it hidden from others who may have a problem with your drug use.
  • You’ve resorted to lying or theft to gain access to a drug supply.
  • You can’t control how much of the drug you use.
  • You’ve begun to use the drug more frequently and can’t seem to slow down.
  • Tolerance has set in and you now require a higher dosage of the drug to achieve the same results a smaller dose used to give you.
  • False perceptual pain, known as “phantom pains,” is also common in abusers of oxycodone drugs.

Dangers of Percocet

One serious concern over extended use of Percocet is actually the acetaminophen side of the issue. The New York Times reports that elevated doses of the Percocet component are actually the primary cause of liver damage. Of the 20,044 deaths attributed to prescription drug overdoses in 2008, 73.8 percent of them were due to opioid pain relievers, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Beyond the scope of acetaminophen, oxycodone carries its own risks, and they shouldn’t be taken lightly. While Percocet comes with typical side effects like an upset stomach and fatigue for the regular user, abusers often suffer different consequences, such as shock or even death stemming from respiratory depression.

Getting Treatment to Get Well

At The Oaks at La Paloma, we can offer you state-of-the-art comprehensive care as you recover from your Percocet abuse issues. From the very first day in detox to the day you’re discharged, we’ll embrace you, get to know you better, and help you figure out what led you to us. How did you end up addicted to Percocet? You could be part of the 53 percent of drug addicts that the National Alliance on Mental Illness states also suffer from severe mental illness. Regardless of what brought you to us, we can help you get back on track to a healthy, sober life. Call us today and find out how we can help you start a new life in recovery.