Oxycodone addiction doesn’t always look like what you expect. It’s not just about how much someone is using, it’s about how that use starts to reshape their life. Mood swings, isolation, secrecy, physical changes, or a creeping sense that something isn’t right – these are all fingerprints that illicit oxycodone use leaves behind. In 2023, for every 1,000 residents, more than 300 opioid-based painkillers were dispensed in Texas. Are these medications dangerous? How does an oxycodone addiction develop? What’s the difference between experiencing a side effect of oxycodone and a side effect of substance use disorder? Our team at San Antonio Recovery Center hears questions like this all the time. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about the signs of oxycodone addiction, what they mean, and what you should do when it’s time to seek help.
Oxycodone is a type of opioid-based medication, sometimes referred to as a narcotic. It is a medical-grade pain relief used most commonly after surgeries to help manage moderate to severe pain. This medication usually comes in pill form. You may be more familiar with some of its brand names, which include OxyContin, OxyPro, and Percocet, to name a few. This medication is approved by the FDA, however, it falls under the category of a Schedule II narcotic. Other schedule II drugs include Adderall, Vicodin, Fentanyl, and Ritalin.
When talking about “addiction” in relation to medications, it’s important to understand the difference between developing an oxycodone use disorder and experiencing physical dependency. Physical dependency occurs whenever your body becomes accustomed to a substance that regularly interacts with and alters how it functions. This can happen with a wide range of FDA-approved medications and does not inherently make a medication “dangerous.” Our bodies are complex and efficient. When you introduce something that helps with how it functions, the body adjusts to the assistance. If you then remove that substance, your body has to readjust to it no longer being there. This can lead to side effects, including cravings. This period is known as withdrawal. It’s not the withdrawal, but rather how you react to the withdrawal, that is indicative of an oxycodone use disorder. If you seek out more of the medication, whether through a prescription or not, and take it against your doctor’s orders, it may be time to seek help for addiction.
As we mentioned earlier, oxycodone is a type of opioid. Opioids play a specific role when they are in the body and fall under the classification of a “depressant.” Whenever you have an opioid in your body, it primarily interacts with the opioid receptors we have in our brain. Their goal is to suppress pain, which is done through a multitude of ways. One is through the opioid receptors, but the other is through the central nervous system. The central nervous system is the messaging system in the body, responsible for our reactions. Slowing it down can lead to a wide range of side effects, such as drowsiness and calm feelings. Let’s talk more about how these symptoms present so you can identify when someone may be engaging with oxycodone.
There are two types of symptoms associated with oxycodone: short-term and long-term. Short-term symptoms refer to those that appear during and shortly after oxycodone usage. They won’t persist when the drug is out of your system. Long-term symptoms, on the other hand, are those that develop due to consistent oxycodone use and can persist for weeks, months, and even years after your last dosage.
Both of these symptom types are important to look out for when trying to determine if you or your loved one may have an oxycodone use disorder.
When under the influence of oxycodone, the most common short-term side effects are relaxation and euphoria. It can also cause slowed breathing, delayed reaction time, and unconsciousness.
When combined with other depressants, such as alcohol, these effects can be doubled and become detrimental. If combined with stimulants, like cocaine or meth, you may notice a “negating” effect where they two “cancel” each other out. This doesn’t make the combination less dangerous and still leads to increased risk of injury or overdose.
When any substance is regularly in your system, it has a chance to cause longer-lasting change. In the case of substances like oxycodone, this change can be detrimental. Though in most cases, symptoms can be reversed through proper treatment and time.
Here are the signs of long-term oxycodone use:
The signs of any substance use disorder go beyond the physical and mental symptoms associated with the drug in question. Other changes occur, too, primarily because of the inherent secrecy behind substance use. You can use these side effects to better understand what your loved one may be going through.
Finding drug paraphernalia around the house is one way to spot a substance use disorder. If your loved one is engaging with oxycodone in particular, you may notice unlabelled pill bottles, baggies with pills in them, or small containers hidden in odd places.
Changes in behavior are also common with oxycodone use disorders. They may start skipping events and activities they used to enjoy. They may be more secretive than normal. They may also start to experience financial troubles or have new problems at their place of employment.
Along with that comes the chance to overhear them using a “street name” for oxycodone. Common street names for oxycodone include: beans, buttons, cotton greens, kickers, oxy, roxy, and whites.
If you or a loved one is regularly engaging with oxycodone outside of a prescription, then you are at risk of experiencing an overdose.
One of the things that prevents someone with a prescription for oxycodone from being at risk of an overdose is the regulations on the ingredients within oxycodone. Additionally, your doctor will never prescribe you a dosage frequency outside of safe levels.
When you obtain oxycodone not through a prescription, you can’t guarantee what’s inside it. You also don’t know if the frequency at which you’re taking the substance is a safe one. These two combined increase your risk of overdose.
The signs of an oxycodone overdose include:
Opioid-based overdoses are the leading cause of overdose deaths in the country, and Texas is no exception. They can be stopped through helpful medications like Naloxone or by promptly seeking medical help.
The first step away from opioids like oxycodone is to find a quality oxycodone rehab. This program should offer medical detox followed by different levels of care and ongoing support. No matter your history with substance use, you deserve to have a care team that supports and understands you every step of the way.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, our team truly understands the recovery process. Many have gone through it themselves. With one of the largest alumni networks in the city, starting your journey here means joining a thriving community of people who want to help you achieve your goals. Why wait? Give us a call at 866-957-7885 to get started today.
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