Commonly abused drugs-Vicodin, Percocet, and Roxies

Commonly abused drugs-Vicodin, Percocet, and Roxies

Some of the most commonly abused drugs today are prescription drugs. In fact, you could go so far to say the abuse of prescription drugs is a new epidemic or even pandemic. The most commonly abused drugs are the ones most commonly prescribed; these drugs tend to be Vicodin, Percocet and Roxies. All three of these drugs are for prescription use only and fall under the category of opioids.

Here are the most commonly abused drugs- Vicodin, Percocet and Roxies.

Vicodin: Vicodin is a popular pain reliever, if not the most popular pain reliever made of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. There are many different forms of medication that use hydrocodone for pain relief as well as cough suppressants. Each year there are more than 139 million prescriptions for hydrocodone containing medications, the most common of those are Vicodin and the similar drug Lortab.

Vicodin and other formulations similar to Vicodin are similar to those chosen most often by those who wish to abuse it. As with any other opiate, a person abusing Vicodin begins to develop a tolerance. This means that they must take more and more of it to get the same effect as before. After a period of abuse, aches and pains begin to show up so the abuser has to get more of the drug to keep them away. One problem with Vicodin abuse is that its formula contains acetaminophen and acetaminophen is toxic to the liver. A person who has a bad Vicodin addiction can end up doing irreparable damage to their liver. At the same time, the opiate addiction will cause damage to their relationships, mental state, and integrity as well as posing a threat of overdose.

Percocet: Percocet is the trade name for a prescription pain reliever that combines oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is an opiate analgesic which is a narcotic derived from the same source as heroin and morphine. Percocet is prescribed to treat moderate to severe short-term pain. When Percocet is taken in large doses or when the prescription tablet is stripped of its time-release mechanism, Percocet can cause the same high as heroin or morphine. Percocet is a central nervous system depressant that floods a person’s system with dopamine so the high from the drug is characterized by euphoria, feelings of calm and relaxation and heightened pleasure. There are many people who abuse Percocet for this reason and they can be found in all age groups, races, economic classes and social circles. Percocet can lead to a tolerance, then dependence and then addiction. An addiction to Percocet is dangerous just as Vicodin abuse is dangerous because of the acetaminophen also in Percocet. This can cause severe liver damage as well as damage to relationships, integrity, career etc. as well as cause overdose in the worst case scenario.

Roxies: Roxies are powerful painkillers that are made up of the drug oxycodone and are known as Roxicodone. Essentially roxies are the next step up from Percocet. Doctors typically prescribe this medication for those with moderate to severe pain and to patients who have continuous pain. It is very easy for those that abuse roxies to develop a tolerance as well as an addiction to the drug. The effects of roxies use can include nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, and dry mouth. Since Roxy is closely related to heroin, the reaction is the same in the body, which means Roxy is also equally addictive as heroin. Dopamine is the natural chemical in the brain, which prepares an individual for the pleasure experiences and happiness. This dopamine is released with the Roxy drug intake and retained in the pleasure center of the brain for a longer period, which retains the pleasure for a long period. With the regular use of Roxy, the tolerance level increases and later the amount of Roxy required to create the same pleasure level becomes more. This eventually leads to addiction to the drug.

Prescription drugs are some of the most commonly abuse drugs today and of those prescription drugs opiates are the most popular; with these three; Vicodin, Percocet and roxies being the most common of them all.

Sources:

http://www.treatmentthatworks.com/ohio/Effects-of-Roxy.htm

http://drugabuse.com/library/oxycodone-abuse/

http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/vicodin-abuse.html