The pain relieving ingredient in Percodan was developed in the early 20th century by German scientists hoping to find an alternative pain reliever to heroin, which was beginning to show just how destructively addictive it was. The result of this search was the drug oxycodone, an opioid that, while having less of a likelihood of dependence than that of heroin, nonetheless carries with it a grave risk for addiction. Percodan addicts quickly find the addiction taking over their life, and are frequent patients in drug rehab centers.
Percodan is a combination of oxycodone, a semi-synthetic opioid pain reliever, and common aspirin. Oxycodone can also be combined with other over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen to create other pain relieving varieties. As a whole, oxycodone based drug varieties are considered to be one of the largest sources prescription drug abuse world wide. Even more strict regulation on a global scale has not been able to eliminate the rapid spread of non-medical oxycodone abuse.
Percodan can be used recreationally, and is a favorite choice of younger drug abusers, such as high schoolers, who have easy access to the pills of older adults. The drug can be used alone or with alcohol to produce an intoxication that decreases mental acuity and motor control, and carries with it a risk of overdose. Oxycodone overdoses are common, mostly among those who are taking the drug outside of a doctor’s care and as such are uninformed about the appropriate dosage.
While this occasional abuse can turn into addiction if done often enough, Percodan addiction is much more commonly found in those who started off taking the drug legally but became hooked while having a prescription. Even at relatively low therapeutic doses the active oxycodone in Percodan can create a physical and psychological dependence. This risk of dependence increases with the length of time that the user is taking the drug, and is made doubly dangerous by the user’s increased tolerance after long-term use. Patients can feel imagined pain as a result of no longer having their senses dulled by Percodan and in some cases will invent injuries to get more of the drug, going from doctor to doctor in drug-seeking practice called doctor shopping. At this point, the addiction has complete control over the addict, and he or she will be a slave to the drug until help is sought.
Because of the severity of withdrawals possible with opioid dependence, hospitalization at a rehabilitation center is the most common method for treatment for Percodan addiction. Long term use and built up physical dependence make it more likely that medical help will be necessary, and in most cases quitting “cold turkey” is replaced by a controlled tapering off of the drug. This medical guidance, in combination with continued therapy and support, can help Percodan addicts safely and permanently kick their habits, and return to their lives no longer depending on drugs to get through the day.
