Anyone who’s suffered an injury or undergone surgery may well be prescribed oxycodone as a pain treatment. As one of the more potent analgesic drugs, oxycodone produces powerful effects, both good and bad. Oxycodone’s ability to suppress pain symptoms also enables it to redirect essential brain chemical processes.

Along with its pain-relieving properties, oxycodone produces certain unintended effects that predispose a person to abuse and addiction practices.

Whether you started taking oxycodone as a pain treatment, or use it for recreational purposes, exceeding prescription guidelines opens the door for addiction to develop. With frequent, ongoing use, the need for oxycodone addiction treatment can not be overlooked after a certain point.

Whether or not you need oxycodone addiction treatment depends on the degree to which drug use has disrupted your daily life.

Oxycodone’s Effects

According to the University of Maryland, oxycodone works by altering the way a person experiences pain on both a physical and emotional level. It does this by increasing neurotransmitter secretion rates in the brain, most notably dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.

When abused, these interactions have a cumulative effect on brain and central nervous system functioning. With continued deterioration, users eventually develop a physical dependence on the drug’s effects, soon to be followed by psychological dependence or addiction.

Not sure if your insurance will help cover your treatment costs? Call our helpline at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) for more information.

Signs You Need Oxycodone Addiction Treatment

Loss of Control of Drug Use

People in need of oxycodone addiction treatment have lost the ability to control their drug use patterns. This condition develops out of the brain’s increasing tolerance for oxycodone’s effects. Tolerance increases result from the ongoing deterioration of brain cells that takes place with frequent oxycodone abuse.

Neglecting Important Responsibilities

Neglecting important responsibilities, such as work and home life for the sake of getting or using oxycodone is a clear indicator that an addiction problem exists. A big part of the oxycodone addiction treatment process entails helping a person replace the mindset that drives drug-using behaviors with a lifestyle that doesn’t revolve around drug-using behavior.

Mental Health Issues

According to Semel Institute, many people turn to oxycodone abuse as a means for self-medicating underlying mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and personality disorders.

Likewise, chronic oxycodone abuse can actually cause mental health issues to take root due to the rampant chemical imbalances that develop. For these reasons, oxycodone addiction treatment incorporates interventions that treat psychological problems as part of their treatment protocols.

Treatment Considerations

The damaging effects of oxycodone abuse only grow progressively worse over time. While brain functions continue to deteriorate, the act of engaging in compulsive drug-using behaviors creates its own patterns of thinking and feeling that only works to reinforce the addiction problem.

Oxycodone addiction treatment enables you to break the hold oxycodone has over the mind and body and take steps towards rebuilding a normal, healthy life.

If you or someone you know are considering oxycodone addiction treatment and have more questions, or need help finding a program that meets your needs, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-934-1582(Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialists.