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What is Percocet?
Percocet is a combination medication primarily prescribed to help relieve moderate to severe pain from post-surgical procedure to a broken bone. Percocet contains a narcotic pain reliever – oxycodone – as well as acetaminophen – a less potent non-opioid pain reliever that increases the effects of Oxycodone. While the amount of acetaminophen in Percocet is fixed at 325mg, the amount of oxycodone usually varies. Percocet tablets are available in four combinations of oxycodone hydrochloride with acetaminophen and come in round or oval tablets ranging in color from pink to peach or white. If you are searching for Percocet addiction treatment in New Jersey or out-of-state, we are here to assist you.
Percocet Addiction & Withdrawal Symptoms
The general attitude towards oxycodone and other prescription drugs is that they are safer alternatives to illegal street drugs such as heroin. The truth is Percocet and similar medications are just as bad and may even result in addiction characteristics of illicit drugs. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), about two million Americans have taken oxycodone illicitly in the last year. Although Oxycodone is more strictly regulated than other prescription opioids, addiction to the drug continues to be a public health concern.
As an opiate, Oxycodone works in the brain to provide relief from pain and induce sleep. Generally, opiates are a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy. However, oxycodone is a synthetic opiate. This means that it is not extracted from the plant itself, but rather replicated using the chemicals similar to those found in opium derivatives. The drug can also be classified as a narcotic (sleep-inducing drug). Oxycodone latches on to specific opioid receptors in the brain and dulls the user’s perception of pain. When taken in higher doses, users experience a feeling of euphoria or drug high. A person may become addicted to Percocet and begin to crave increasingly larger doses to achieve the euphoric feeling.
General withdrawal symptoms of Percocet addiction include:
- Restlessness
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Sweating
- Muscle aches
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Suicidal thoughts
Find Treatment for Percocet Addiction
Most Percocet addicts find it almost impossible to quit without help as withdrawal from Percocet, even for a short time, can create very unpleasant symptoms characteristic of opioids. Generally, the administration of the drug results in a feeling of calmness and relaxation for as long as the drug’s half-life. Since Percocet is a fast-acting drug, addicts sooner experience wild mood swings, intense sensitivity to light and sound, delusions, and pain. Thus causing them to re-administer the drug often in higher doses. Such practice can be potentially fatal especially when Percocet is combined with alcohol or other drugs.
Addiction treatment typically starts with detoxification, which involves gradually weaning the user off the drug. Often, detoxification is medically assisted as the oxycodone is replaced with drugs designed for such treatment. An example is Methadone, an FDA-approved drug for opioid treatment.
Treating physical addiction alone through detox has little impact on the addiction. Thus, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is incorporated into the treatment program. CBT helps a recovering addict identify the root cause of their addiction and teaches them how to handle cravings, avoiding stressors and triggers that could lead to relapse, as well as how to handle relapse if it does happen. These treatments may be conducted in an inpatient (residential) setting or as part of an intensive outpatient program.
Getting Help for Percocet Addiction in NJ
Abuse rates are alarmingly high in East Coast cities, especially New Jersey. Kicking addiction is not something you have to do alone. New Jersey Addiction Resources has brought help closer to New Jersey residents. Programs at our partner treatment centers employ an individualized approach.
Recognizing that addiction is a problem is the first step towards recovery. Whether you or a loved just started using or have gone through several programs and relapsed, rest assured that NJ Addiction Resources would help you in your fight to kick the drug habit for good. We are always available to discuss your needs for Percocet rehab in NJ or out-of-state. Our experts will connect you with the best addiction treatment program suited for you. Call our addiction helpline.