Millions of people living in the United States abuse physician-prescribed opiate medications every day. In fact, opiate abuse affects nearly everyone in the country in one way or another, whether directly or through loved ones. When discussing opiate addiction, it’s important to know the difference between different types of medications. OxyContin vs oxycodone is a good place to start for those who don’t know a lot about opiate prescription medications.
OxyContin vs Oxycodone
Before looking at how OxyContin and oxycodone are different, let’s first examine their similarities. Understanding how they’re similar will provide you with a better overall understanding of each drug and how they work in the body.
Both OxyContin and oxycodone are opioid medications that physicians prescribe to treat chronic pain. Technically, these two medications are the same. Though, many medical professionals consider oxycodone to be the safer of the two options because acetaminophen and ibuprofen are often present in certain formulations. In fact, other medications including Percocet, Percodan, Tylox, and OxyContin all contain oxycodone in their make up. What sets OxyContin apart from the rest is the fact that oxycodone is the only ingredient.
Oxy Abuse
Medically speaking, oxycodone is the generic name for OxyContin, since oxycodone is the main active ingredient in the medication. Oxycodone is also the main ingredient in several other medications, too, though. The main difference is that oxycodone in OxyContin is an extended release formula. Scientists developed the brand named pharmaceutical to be effective for an average of 12 hours.
OxyContin is one of the most commonly abused opioids available. In general, this drug produces stronger effects than other opioid medications, mostly because it contains a pure concentration of oxycodone. This formula makes the drug excessively strong and highly addictive.
Tapering of the drug—as in crushing the drug to be swallowed or snorted, or diluting it in water and then injecting it—makes the time release effects null and void, and allows users to receive a highly potent amount of the medication, immediately. The full effects of the drug produce a “high” similar to the euphoria that heroin creates. Some users even resort to smoking OxyContin in order to achieve stronger, more immediate effects.
Help for Opioid Dependency and Addiction
The biggest similarity in OxyContin vs oxycodone is that addiction to either can make your life miserable. Opioid addiction is a dangerous disease that you shouldn’t have to live with forever. At Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, we can help you beat addiction and learn to implement positive, long-lasting change in your life.
Some of the programs and services we offer at Crestview Recovery include:
- Outpatient treatment
- Extended care 90-day program
- Exhaustive therapy
You can overcome addiction at a quality rehab center. Our team of physicians and master level therapists are ready and eager to help make your recovery process as smooth as possible.
Get Started on Your Recovery
Don’t let an addiction to opiate medications steal your joy. At Crestview Recovery, we can help you beat your addiction. Here, you’ll learn healthy coping skills that you can use to resist the temptation in the future. Additionally, we’ll provide you with many useful resources that can help you stay committed to sobriety for the rest of your life. If you would like more information on how our addiction programs can help you regain control over your life, call us today at 866.262.0531.
