Canadian Addiction Rehab Recovering from Morphine Addiction | Page 12

Oxycontin: A Drug of Dependence
 Oxycontin overdoses are dangerous and of course lead to death. The
makeup of this drug and how it attaches to receptors in the brain make it
easy to slip into a coma and possible loss of life. If someone in the family
has an addiction there are outward signs one may notice. These signs
include the following.
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Dilated pupils (not reactive to light)
Periods of extreme sedation. Difficult to wake
Lack of responsiveness
Bluish appearance to lips and fingernails
 Oxycontin addiction revolves around the dependence one begins to feel
while using oxycontin. Once the drug is taken, a release of dopamine
happens. Dopamine is the hormone which calms the reward system of the
brain. Once the experience happens, one will want to continue taking this
drug. The problem is that at some point in the addiction a person will
become tolerant, therefore needing more of the drug to get the desired
effects. This rollercoaster leads to a bigger addiction.