Percocet is a commonly abused prescription pain-killer. It’s made up of an opiate (oxycodone), and acetaminophen (Tylenol or Paracetamol).
One of the main reasons it’s so commonly abused is because of it’s frequent use as a painkiller for people with lower back pain, traumatic injury, or after pain after surgery.
Both the oxycodone and the acetaminophen offer valuable pain-killing effects — through different mechanisms. This makes it highly effective at eliminating a wide spectrum of pain types. It’s used for anything from mild to severe pain.
Percocet produces feelings of euphoria and relaxation, which is a positive feeling to most people who take it. This makes people seek more of the drug, developing habits around its use — often extending longer than the original prescription intended.
Over prolonged use (2 weeks or more), Percocet changes the chemical balance in the brain — causing it to crave the drug whenever it’s not in the system.
Percocet addiction is often gradual and can go unnoticed for long periods of time.
As the addiction progresses, symptoms become worse, eventually reaching a point where the body is fully dependant on the drug. Without it, the body starts to go through symptoms of withdrawal, which can be extremely uncomfortable.
We become unable to feel euphoric, relaxed, or pain-free without the help of the drug. The body loses the ability to regulate these sensations on its own.
Addiction to Percocet can be treated with the help of experienced medical professionals, and treatment programs.