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Opiate Addiction
 
Opiate dependency on doctor prescribed medications such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Percodan, and codeine is an all-to-common occurrence that afflicts individuals of all ages and ethnicities, and from all walks of life. 

Through accidental or careless misuse, people with no history of opiate abuse often find themselves as physically and emotionally hooked on these drugs as any heroine or methadone addict. Opiates do not discriminate. Whether intentional or accidental, prolonged opiate abuse will result in opiate dependency.
 
Opiate addiction symptoms include craving and signs of withdrawal: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps, kicking movements, and others.


OxyContin
 
OxyContin is a powerful opium derivative with heroin-like properties that is most often prescribed for use by terminal cancer patients and chronic pain sufferers. Because of its availability and high opiate dosage, OxyContin has become a popular recreational and street drug. But Oxycontin abuse is a potentially lethal pastime. Its elevated opiate levels can quickly lead to physical dependence, and ultimately Oxycontin addiction. Hundreds of deaths have been linked to Oxycontin abuse, often by first-time users or in combination with alcohol or another drug. Typical Oxycontin addiction symptoms are:
 

Constant exhaustion
Depression
Decreased appetite
Decreased sex drive
Joint/muscle pain
Nausea/vomiting
Diarrhea
Insomnia
Weight-loss

 

The duration of the Oxycontin detox process depends on the individual but, in some cases, symptoms can last for weeks. As with heroin addiction, Oxycontin detox without managed medical oversight is a slow, decidedly uncomfortable, often dangerous experience. Typical untreated OxyContin detox side effects include:

 

 

Restlessness
Cold-like symptoms
Sweating/chills
Muscle/bone pain
Anxiety
Cramps
Blood pressure complications
Diarrhea/vomiting

 

Treatment  -  Suboxone / Subutex / buprenorphine
 
This is a medication that serves as a "partial agonist" for the treatment of opiate and narcotic abuse.  It is a schedule III opiate medication FDA approved for the  treatment of opiate dependence.  It has no desirable "high", even if taken in large doses, because it does not fully activate the body's opiate receptors.  Think of it as an opiate with a "governor" or built-in speed limiter or as having a "ceiling effect". This  makes buprenorphine very safe because it is difficult to "overdose".  Buprenorphine also interferes with the ability of other opiates to make someone "high" because it is "sticky" and other opiates have to get it off the receptors before they can work.
 
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requires special training and special "waiver"  in order to prescribe Suboxone.  There is also a federally designated limit to the number of patients a practitioner can treat, making access to Suboxone a precious limited resource.
 
(Suboxone is buprenorphine mixed with another drug that is an INACTIVE INGREDIENT when taken as prescribed.  This drug, Naloxone, is an antagonist or "antidote" to opiates.  When taken sublingual or orally it is essentially not absorbed into the blood,  When Suboxone is taken sublingually as directed, this other ingredient has no significant effect.  However, if Suboxone is crushed and "cooked" and injected intravenously, the Naloxone RIPS EVERY OPIATE OFF EVERY OPIATE RECEPTOR in the body!  This would cause immediate severe withdrawal and be extremely unpleasant!  This other drug is mixed in  ONLY to ruin Suboxone abuse for needle users.  Active opiate addicts will avoid injecting Suboxone as if it were a poison!)