Newport Academy

Teen Oxycontin Abuse

Thousands of adolescents are currently abusing OxyContin. This powerful prescription painkiller has become “the drug of choice” at parties and schools across the country – as kids look for a means of escape from the perceived stress and boredom of their everyday lives. The best weapon parents have against teen OxyContin abuse is information. With that in mind, we present the following facts that every parent should know about teen OxyContin abuse.

How does Teen OxyContin Abuse start?

There are a number of different ways that teens are introduced to OxyContin. Among the most common currently “making the rounds” among adolescents are:

• Medicine cabinets. If your teen has abused OxyContin, there is a strong chance that the place they first obtained the drug was your own medicine cabinet. Parents are urged to throw away unused painkillers (or any other potentially dangerous medication) or keep it under lock-and-key.
• "Pharming Parties”. At these rave-like get-togethers, kids swap different prescription drugs. The results can be quite dangerous as many pharmaceuticals were not meant to be mixed – and can often cause deadly results.
• The Internet. Believe it or not, teen OxyContin abuse is just a couple of mouse clicks away thanks to the hundreds of illicit pharmacies currently doing business online. These criminal enterprises are usually located in other countries and will sell highly addictive medications such as OxyContin and Vicodin with nothing more than a credit card number.

When Teen OxyContin Abuse turns to Addiction

There is a point where the teen’s experimentation with OxyContin turns into a full-blown addiction. Parents need to know the signs and symptoms of teen OxyContin addiction so that they can help their child find treatment immediately.

Among the most common signs and symptoms of OxyContin addiction are:

• Sudden mood swings. In between doses of OxyContin, teens are prone to sudden mood swings. The opiate effects of the drug takes them to emotional highs, but the “crash” that follows can lead to irritability and depression.
• Tolerance. When an individual becomes addicted to OxyContin, it takes more and more of the drug to achieve the desired euphoric effect. When this occurs, overdose becomes a concern as the teen will be taking large amounts of the drug.
• Poor performance in school. A teen with an OxyContin addiction will lose interest in their schoolwork – as obtaining more and more of the drug becomes the sole focal point of their life.
• Criminal behavior. When an individual develops an OxyContin addiction, they will do anything to obtain more of the drug. This can include stealing drugs from the homes of friends and family, robbing other homes or individuals for money, or illegally forging prescriptions.

Treatment for Teen OxyContin Abuse

The most effective way to treat teen OxyContin abuse is through a teen drug rehab program. These programs are designed to address the specific issues that impact the lives of our children – and take place in a safe environment where all the other patients are of the same age as the addicted individual. In these programs, the teen gains support for their peers, many of whom are going through the exact same circumstances. Teen OxyContin rehab programs also incorporate the family, calling for counseling sessions that help rebuild trust into relationships that have been damaged by OxyContin addiction.