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What is a “Perc?”
Percocet, commonly known as a “perc,” is a powerful opioid pain medication made from two main ingredients: Oxycodone and acetaminophen. Prescribed by doctors, Percocet helps patients with moderate to severe pain. Although the drug is intended for short-term use, because of its potency, individuals can become addicted. Prescription opioids are very effective medications.
What Do “Percs” Do?
Percocet is a prescription medication with oxycodone (an opioid) and acetaminophen (a pain reliever and fever reducer). It alters pain signal perception, providing effective relief for moderate to severe pain. However, both misuse and prescribed use of Percocet can lead to addiction.
When dependency occurs, an individual needs to take more Percocet and maintain normal body functions. This is the nature of addiction. Fortunately, Northern Illinois Recovery Center offers a comprehensive prescription drug addiction treatment program.
How Was Percocet Created?
Percocet was created in the early 1900s. It is a mix of oxycodone and acetaminophen, and it was designed to relieve moderate to severe pain. Percocet was created to be less addictive than pure oxycodone, and it was meant to be a short-term medication.
How Is Percocet Abused?
Percocet is abused when people take more of it than prescribed, or they crush the pills and snort them. This increases the drug’s effects and can lead to addiction quickly. It is also abused when it is mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Percocet affects the brain by increasing levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure. This can result in a Percocet high and lead to addiction.
The risks of Percocet addiction include overdose and death. Percocet overdose can occur when someone takes too much of the drug or combines it with other substances such as alcohol.
In Illinois, 2,169 people die from opioid overdose in one year. Prescription opioids are a factor in 24.9% of opioid overdose deaths. Opioids are a factor in 79.7% of all overdose deaths. 17 out of every 100,000 residents die from an opioid overdose. Doctors write enough prescriptions for 45.2% of residents to have one.
What Other Substances Can Increase a Percocet High?
Polydrug use (using multiple drugs at once) is common with Percocet addiction. When Percocet is mixed with other substances, the effects of each drug are intensified. This can be extremely dangerous and lead to accidental overdose.
People abuse Percocet for a number of reasons, including:
- To get high
- To relieve pain
- To relax or relieve stress
- To party or socialize
- To self-medicate mental health issues
Who is Most Affected by Percocet Addiction?
The demographic most affected by Percocet addiction is young adults aged 18 to 25. This is because they are more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol and Percocet is easily accessible. Young adults are more prone to addiction because their brains are still developing. College students are also at risk for Percocet addiction because they are often under pressure to succeed.
Teenagers in Illinois are 4.29% more likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. 82,000 or 8.69% of 12- to 17-year-olds report using drugs in the last month. In Illinois, 2.22% report misusing pain relievers.
Chronic Pain and Percocet Addiction
Chronic pain can lead to substance abuse, and Percocet is one of the most commonly abused painkillers. Percocet addiction develops when people take the drug to get high or to relieve pain but eventually become dependent on it. Chronic pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including injuries, diseases, or conditions.
Mental illness can also increase the risk of addiction to Percocet and other drugs. If you have a mental illness and are struggling with drug abuse, it’s important to get help. Treatment for both conditions will increase your chances of recovery.
How Does Percocet Addiction Affect Athletes?
Athletes can be affected by Percocet addiction in a number of ways. First, they may be more likely to abuse Percocet because of the stress of competition. Second, Percocet can mask pain and improve athletic performance. Finally, athletes may be more likely to develop an addiction to Percocet because of the physical and mental demands of their sport.
How Does Percocet Addiction Affect Pregnant Women?
Pregnant women are at risk for Percocet addiction for a number of reasons. First, they may be taking Percocet for legitimate medical reasons. Second, Percocet can mask pain and make it easier to cope with pregnancy-related pain. Third, pregnant women may be more likely to develop an addiction to Percocet because of the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Percocet Addiction?
The long-term effects of Percocet addiction can be devastating. They include:
- Drug dependence and addiction
- Overdose and death
- Serious health problems, including organ damage
- Problems with relationships and family
- Financial problems
- Legal problems
As with most addictions, Percocet addiction is a complex disease that requires comprehensive treatment. Recovery is possible, but it takes time, effort, and commitment. With the right support, however, Percocet addicts can overcome their addiction and rebuild their lives.
Can I Detox from the Side Effects of Percocet Alone?
To detox from Percocet, you’ll need to taper off the drug under the care of a doctor. Tapering Percocet can be difficult because of its addictive properties. Withdrawal from Percocet can result in a wide range of symptoms, including anxiety, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting.
Heroin as an Alternative to Percocet
When a person is addicted to Percocet but can’t get any more through legal or illegal means, they may turn to alternatives such as heroin. Heroin is very cheap and easy to get on the street, and it gives users a similar high to Percocet.
Heroin is an opiate that works by depressing the central nervous system in a similar way to Percocet. When people use heroin, they may also experience respiratory depression and even death. Percocet addiction is a serious problem in the United States. Each year, thousands of people die from Percocet overdoses.
What Are the Signs of a Percocet Overdose?
The signs of a Percocet overdose can vary depending on how much of the drug was taken. Some common symptoms include:
- Extreme drowsiness
- Shallow breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
- Slowed heart rate
If you think someone has overdosed on Percocet, call 911 immediately. Percocet is a prescription opioid medication that is used to relieve pain. Percocet addiction occurs when a person takes more Percocet than prescribed or uses it for nonmedical reasons.
Percocet High Can Be Dangerous
Like any drug taken outside defined instructions, Percocet abuse can cause an overdose. Severe side effects range from physical health issues to mental health disorders to fatality. Therefore, anyone who has an addiction to Percocet should seek professional help from our addiction treatment center.
If you take Oxycodone pills for an extended period, the Percocet high will eventually wear off as your body becomes tolerant of the substance. As a result, you may increase the dosage of Percocet to continue getting high. The increase in dosage can lead to an overdose or a long-term dependency that is hard to quit.
The most preferred method of taking the drug is snorting. This produces a Percocet high up to five times faster than swallowing a pill. When you snort the drug, it bypasses your stomach and goes straight into your system. As a result, you may start to get high within 15 minutes of snorting the drug. By comparison, it can take over an hour to feel the same high when you swallow the pill.
Percocet Side Effects
Snorting or abusing the drug presents a wide range of psychological and physical side effects. One of the greatest risks of a Percocet high is damage to the blood vessels. Oxycodone can also harm your throat and respiratory system. Common symptoms of overdosing on Percocet include:
- Chronic sinus infections
- Unconsciousness
- Frequent nose bleeds
- Abdominal pain
- Severe headaches
- Problems swallowing
Other risks include sleep apnea, congestion, inability to smell, lung infections, sores in the mouth and nose, pneumonia. Prolonged use of Percocet may include respiratory or circulatory disease, heart failure, psychosis, seizures, or a coma.
Percocet Addiction Treatment
If you’re addicted to Percocet, you’ll need addiction treatment Illinois. This typically involves a combination of medication and therapy. Medications used in Percocet addiction treatment include buprenorphine and naltrexone. These medications help reduce cravings for Percocet and block the effects of the drug if it is taken while in treatment.
Treatment for Percocet addiction often includes detox, rehab, and extended care. Our detox center provides 24/7 supervision to monitor patients to ensure they don’t develop complications and treat them immediately. When flushing the substance out of one’s system, the body can be put under a great amount of strain, causing dramatic changes in blood pressure or heart rate, for example. Also, the strain of withdrawal symptoms may cause other underlying physical health issues to worsen. During detox, our staff may administer medication to help with withdrawal symptoms, should they be severe.
A detox center also ensures that you complete the program so that you can transition into rehab. Without detox, you have a greater chance of relapsing. Once you complete your detox, you can continue your treatment in an inpatient or outpatient treatment center. A therapist can work with you to develop a plan for long-term recovery.
Discover How Northern Illinois Recovery Can Help
While a Percocet high may produce pleasurable feelings, it can lead to devastating consequences. Now is the time to end your addiction. Northern Illinois Recovery Center can help. We offer comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment for all types of addictions, such as:
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