Oxycontin Teachback for Drugs and Society Class

1. Oxycontin
Zack DiRusso
March 1, 2016

2. What is it?
 Oxycontin is an opioid pain medication, sometimes also called a narcotic.
 It is usually in a pill form and taken in relatively small doses.

3. What is it used for?
 Used to treat moderate to severe pain.
 Legally prescribed by doctors to individuals suffering from either chronic or
temporary pain.
 Can only be acquired through a prescription.

4. Side effects
 Slows down respiratory system and therefor can potentially slow or stop breathing.
 Constipation
 Nausea
 Sleepiness
 Itching
 Headaches

5. Development of Addiction
 People with chronic pain are more susceptible to addiction, as well as people
suffering from depression/anxiety.
 Addiction rates are not quite as high as people normally thought.
 As tolerance goes up, people feel less effect, and do not become addicted.

6. Development of Addiction Cont’d
 Addiction is more likely to start with a co-occurring disorder such as depression,
anxiety, other substance abuse.
 Proven single cause for addiction is unknown to this day.
 Brain chemistry, environment, and psychological factors are thought to be top
causes.

7. Effect on the Brain
 Attaches to specific proteins called opioid receptors in the brain.
 Bring a sense of euphoria and reduce overall perception of pain.
 The feeling can get people hooked and can cause people to want a more intense
feeling of euphoria, therefor risking overdose.

8. Oxycontin Dependence
 Can develop after drug has been used for an extended period of time.
 Dependence develops because the brain adapts to the changes induced by the
drug and requires continual access to the drug to maintain the new brain state.

9. Treatment for addiction
 Inpatient and outpatient rehab
 Detox process
 Vivitrol injection blocks opioid receptors in the brain, therefor leading to opiates
having no effect.

10. “Overall, 21.7 percent of high school
seniors have abused prescription
drugs in their lifetimes.”

11. Discussion Question
 Should there be a limit to how much Oxycontin should be prescribed to people
suffering from pain?

12. Resources
- Aquina, Christopher T. (2009) Oxycontin Abuse and Overdose,
(pp. 163-167) Postgraduate Medicine Vol. 12
- Cicero, Theodore J. (2005) Trends in Abuse of OxyContin® and Other Opioid
Analgesics in the United States: 2002-2004 (pp. 662 – 672) The Journal of Pain
- Sees, Karen L. (2005) Non-Medical Use of OxyContin Tablets in the United States
(PP. 13-23) Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy