OxyContin is an oxycodone-based opioid with a long history as a target of substance abuse. Abuse of the medication is a major concern since it can easily lead to opioid addiction. Long-term problems with OxyContin can also lead to a wide range of other damaging effects on your health. These facts underscore the urgency of seeking OxyContin addiction treatment when needed. Prompt treatment can not only help you recover your sobriety. It also helps support your recovery from addiction’s mental and physical impacts.
Defining Long-Term Vs. Short-Term Effects of OxyContin Abuse
What’s the difference between the long-term and short-term effects of abusing OxyContin? Each category is based on the timeframe in which the effects you experience occur. Some short-term effects of OxyContin abuse appear within seconds to minutes after taking the medication. Others may appear over hours, days, or weeks.
In contrast, long-term side effects take more time to develop. They’re a sign of ongoing harmful changes occurring inside your body and brain. Inevitably, there’s some gray area regarding the transition from short- to long-term problems. However, for the most part, it’s easy to distinguish between the two categories.
Long-Term Effects of OxyContin – The Process of Opioid Addiction
If you abuse any opioid repeatedly over time, you create a clear pathway to the development of addiction. The first sign of a developing OxyContin problem is typically physical dependence or a physical reliance on the medication’s presence. However, this dependence can and does happen to people who never become addicted.
What else is needed to continue the process of addiction? A clear indicator is the onset of a compulsive urge for more OxyContin. Once present, this urge affects you whether or not you want it to. It can drive you to do many things you wouldn’t normally do to ensure your access to the medication. When you no longer care about the harm caused by your actions, full-blown addiction has arrived.
Assessing the Mental Side Effects of OxyContin Addiction
Untreated OxyContin addiction can leave you vulnerable to multiple long-term brain health issues. Depending on your situation, these issues may include:
- Problems thinking clearly or making decisions
- A reduced ability to cope with stress
- Actual physical changes to the structure of your brain
Unfortunately, the problems you experience can make it even harder to recover your sobriety.
Assessing OxyContin Addiction’s Physical Effects
There are many potential long-term effects of OxyContin abuse on your body. The list of such effects includes:
- Immune system damage
- Chronic malnutrition
- Impaired liver or kidney function
- Infected heart muscle tissue
- Loss of your heart’s ability to pump blood as it should
- Ongoing problems with constipation
Long-term opioid addiction can also increase your risk for severe pneumonia. In addition, it can increase your chances of developing tuberculosis. If you inject OxyContin, other serious problems can occur. For example, your veins may scar over. They may also collapse. In addition, you may develop skin or tissue abscesses. Moreover, you could expose yourself to hepatitis or HIV/AIDS.
Turn to Northpoint Colorado for More on the Long-Term Effects of OxyContin Abuse
Have more questions about the impact of long-term OxyContin abuse? Consult the experts at Northpoint Colorado. We’re committed to providing timely, accurate information and providing quality treatment programs for recovery.
Want to avoid the potential side effects of OxyContin addiction? Northpoint features a full slate of resources for addiction recovery. With our help, you can begin the road to physical and mental healing. That’s true, regardless of the situation you’re in today. To get started, call us today at 888.231.1281. You can also reach us through our online contact form.