Oxycodone hydrochloride is an opioid. It is a controlled substance with potential for addiction, abuse and misuse, and can lead to overdose and death if the prescribed dosage is not properly administered. Physicians are instructed to closely examine several facets regarding the patient they are considering prescribing this medication for, due to the propensity for habit-forming behavior that is characteristic with oxycodone. Oxycodone can be in pill form and in liquid form. Both formulas require regular monitoring by a physician to confirm that the dosage is correct for the patient.
In instances that indicate an inaccurate dosage, the patient is more likely to become dependent upon oxycodone. Long term use of oxycodone may form a habit that nurtures physical and mental dependence. Often times, in a situation that has become habit, the patient will continue to use the drug even after the symptoms it was prescribed for are gone. In spite of the possibility for physical or mental dependence, physicians do recommend that patients that are still suffering from pain continue on with oxycodone to alleviate their problem. In these cases severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Office‐based treatment of opioid addiction has been unavailable in the United States since the early 1900s. Thus, most U.S. physicians today have little or no experience in the management of opioid addiction. As a consequence, physicians often treat substance‐related disorders (e.g., infectious diseases) without having the resources to treat the concurrent substance‐use disorder itself. With the introduction of buprenorphine, office‐based physicians now will have the ability to treat both the complications of opioid addiction and opioid addiction itself.”
With all the precautions taken and consideration given to prevent dependence, it is apparent that a dependence upon oxycodone is a serious problem. There are severe consequences and treatment for even the slightest dependence is highly recommended. Receiving treatment in a specialized facility that offers many methods to treat the problem as well as coaching methods and close monitoring, seems to ensure a higher rate of success for independence from oxycodone and lower chance of relapse.
Many treatment facilities offer services that assist with all facets of dependence:
- Detoxification
- Pharmacological assisted recovery
- Physician monitored treatment
- Behavior therapy
- Relapse prevention technique
Research shows that addicts who seek help in treatment facilities have a higher likelihood of success and lowered instances of relapse than those who receive only certain aspects of rehabilitation. For many patients, it may be inappropriate or seem impossible to gauge whether or not their dependency is at a level that needs treatment. In most cases of dependency, self-control is already out the window. It is more likely that patients will need to be started in a treatment facility that offers personalized care catered to their specific needs and dependency.