Signs Of Percocet Use

Percocet is a combination, opioid narcotic—a pain-relieving prescription medication. Many opioid prescription drugs have highly addictive properties, presenting a great risk of use to those who take them. The opioid epidemic looms large in the United States. In 2015, two million people had a substance use disorder involving opioid narcotic prescriptions. This number includes adolescents age 12 and older and accounts for nearly ten percent of all substance use, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

The best way to fight this growing trend is to help addicted individuals get into treatment, and raise awareness about the risks associated with prescription opioids like Percocet. Vertava Health can assist you in finding resources for oxycodone treatment.

Not everyone understands the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. In fact, many people never question a medication’s potential for use simply because it is prescribed by a physician. Yet use of opioids has increased in the past few decades, resulting in alarmingly high rates of overdose deaths.

When people enter treatment, they can learn to manage their addiction, and eventually abstain from the use of substances altogether. Behavioral therapy remains the most effective form of treatment for opioid addiction as it teaches addicted individuals to focus on a substance-free lifestyle. Rebuilding life outside of substance use is key to a successful recovery.

What Is Percocet?

Percocet belongs to a group of opioid narcotics known as combination medications. It is comprised of the narcotic pain reliever, oxycodone, and the non-opioid pain reliever, acetaminophen. The medication works by changing the way a person’s brain responds to the pain (oxycodone) and also by relieving pain and reducing fever (acetaminophen). It is available in tablet or liquid form, and dosage depends on a person’s medical needs.

What Are The Signs Of Percocet Use?

Knowing the signs of Percocet use can be the first step to getting a loved one into treatment. Signs may appear as changes in behavior, physical appearance or health, or thoughts and mindset. The following are signs of opioid use, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Agitation
• Anxiety/panic attacks
• Breathing changes (slowed or shallow)
• Constipation
• Depression
• Drowsiness
• Irritability
• Lack of coordination
• Lack of interest in hobbies or daily activities
• Lowered or lack of motivation
• Making bad decisions/lack of inhibitions
• Mood changes
• Poor performance in school, work, or other obligations
• Slurred speech
• Sleep changes (sleeping a lot or insomnia)

What Are The Side Effects Of Percocet Use?

Perhaps the most dangerous side effect of Percocet use is the risk of physical dependence. Percocet, like many opioids, is prescribed only for a short period of time—because it is highly addictive. Even if taken as directed, a person can develop tolerance to the effects of the medication. This means that a person no longer feels the effects when taking it. As a result, a person may begin taking higher or more frequent doses to achieve the same euphoric effects (the “high”).

Within a short time, when a person’s body and brain become accustomed to the effects of the drug, that person may experience withdrawal symptoms when not taking it, or when trying to stop taking it. Withdrawal can be harsh, resulting in such symptoms as:

• Extreme fatigue
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Pain
• Tremors

In extreme cases, opioid use can be fatal. As a person becomes tolerant, he or she may begin taking higher or more frequent doses, increasing the risk of overdose. To avoid this outcome, it is best to seek treatment for prescription drug use right away, and we at Vertava Health can help with this.

Who Is Affected By Opioid Addiction?

Of the millions of Americans affected by opioid addiction, the ASAM explains, “women are more likely to have chronic pain, be prescribed prescription pain relievers, be given higher doses, and use them for longer periods than men.” Prescription opioid use is particularly common among youth, who often obtain unused or unsecured medications from a relative.

But one of the most far-reaching effects of prescription opioid addiction is that it can lead to use of other recreational drugs. For example, four out of five people newly abusing heroin began first abusing prescription drugs. With such a vast scope and excessive numbers of overdose deaths, opioid addiction has become an epidemic. Treatment in an inpatient rehab center is the best recourse for those struggling.