Can you smoke OxyContin?
OxyContin is a popular opioid drug commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is also one of the most abused prescription opioids. The medication is typically prescribed in a pill or tablet form that is taken orally. Can you smoke OxyContin? Yes. Is snorting OxyContin also a form of abuse? Yes.
OxyContin is a brand of extended-release oxycodone. It is a central nervous system depressant with a high potential for abuse. It is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic pain reliever available only by prescription. OxyContin and other opioids change the way the brain responds to pain and their euphoric effects can quickly cause a chemical dependence and addiction when used in any way other than prescribed.
When OxyContin is smoked or snorted, it is considered a form of drug abuse.
How does OxyContin work?
The opioid acts on the brain’s reward center by using neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin to contribute to the feelings of well-being and euphoria. It can help relieve moderate to severe pain and improve quality of life in those who suffer from chronic conditions such as an injury, cancer or severe arthritis.
OxyContin is the extended-release formulation of the generic medication oxycodone. It provides a slow and timed release dosage of medication throughout the day. This formulation can remain in the body for up to 12 hours. Most extended-release formulations contain a much larger dose of the medication because it is taken over a longer period of time.
When it comes to abusing this prescription opioid through snorting or smoking, users tend to use the same extended-release formulation through a practice called dose dumping. Dose dumping is when the entire dosage of a substance is ingested at one time. These methods of drug administration allow for the substance to be activated immediately in one large, complete dose. This puts the user at risk of adverse effects, especially overdose.
Can you smoke OxyContin?
Smoking OxyContin is a form of drug abuse. Using a medication in any way other than prescribed by a medical provider is considered abuse. Because the opioid is typically prescribed through oral administration, turning the liquid into a vapor to be smoked is considered abuse of the drug.
Many people believe smoking the drug is a safer alternative to injecting the liquid form. However, it is not the case. When oxycodone is smoked, it provides rapid absorption that induces an enormous release of dopamine into the brain. This dopamine rush is what is known as a euphoric high and only further enhances the drug’s potential for abuse and addiction.
Smoking the opioid is one of the fastest ways to get high. Side effects of smoking OxyContin include drowsiness, nodding off, itching, dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, sore muscles and constipation. Other side effects include confusion, altered mental status, delirium, lack of alertness, stumbling and impaired coordination.
The potential high risk for overdose is one of the most severe side effects of smoking OxyContin. When smoking, you are more likely to consume a higher dose. As a result, the brain can begin to slowly shut down, leading to oxygen deprivation and respiratory depression.
Smoking allows for the full dosage and potency of the opioid to hit the bloodstream and brain at once. This produces a rush of pleasure, warmth and euphoria, which can cause a person to nod out. Despite its rapid onset of euphoria, smoking OxyContin will also lead to a quicker comedown of the same effects. Those who smoke prescription opioids are more likely to ingest the drug in a binge-like fashion and are more likely to struggle with polydrug use.
Is snorting OxyContin a form of drug abuse?
Snorting OxyContin is a very common form of drug abuse in which pills and tablets are crushed up and snorted through the nasal passageway. Snorting speeds up the effects of the drug in the central nervous system and produces a more intense high than that of heroin. Although it produces a quick high, the onset is not as immediate as it would be if it were smoked. It can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to feel the effects of snorting compared to over an hour if the opioid is taken orally.
When snorted, the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream via the mucous membrane that lines the nose and throat. This allows the opioid to reach the brain more quickly because it bypasses the digestive tract and goes straight into the bloodstream then to the brain. Crushing drugs into powder and ingesting them nasally allows the person to avoid the time-release aspect of OxyContin and experience its effects more quickly and more intensely.
Common short-term side effects of snorting OxyContin include drowsiness, nosebleeds, runny nose, slurred speech, unpredictable mood swings, slowed heart rate, slowed breathing, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Long-term side effects can include chronic sinus infections, severe headaches, lung infections, sleep apnea, congestion, loss of smell and taste, damage or death of nasal tissue, tearing of nasal septum, sores in the nose and mouth and difficulty swallowing.
One of the most dangerous side effects of snorting opioids is the damage to the nasal tissues, sinuses and throat. Snorting can produce chronic nosebleeds and recurrent bacterial infections in the nose as well as the upper respiratory tract. Snorting also leads to a higher risk of overdose.
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Signs that a person is snorting OxyContin
- Use of straws
- Credit cards or a mirror hanging around
- Constant runny nose or congestion without a clear cause
- White powder around the nose and mouth
- A hoarse voice and slurred speech
- Sudden mood changes
- Unexplained weight changes
- Poor hygiene
- A fixation on the next dose of the drug
- Continuing to snort drugs despite negative consequences
- Hiding evidence of drug use or lying about drug use
Why do people Smoke or Snort OxyContin?
Why would someone want to smoke or snort OxyContin? Both of these methods of drug administration are considered escalated drug behavior. Drug abusers usually start out by orally ingesting. Then they move on to snorting the drug and then when they have become dependent and developed an addiction, they usually move on to smoking the drug.
In some cases, a person may turn to snorting and smoking the opioid due to limited alternative methods. The most common factor is to intensify the opioid effects. It is especially potent when using OxyContin, the extended-release formulation of oxycodone. This is because it carries a much higher dosage of the drug. Not only are the effects intensified, but users also experience a much faster onset of effects compared to oral ingestion.
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Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
OxyContin is a powerful opioid that is one of the most commonly abused prescription medications. When abused, it can be crushed into powder form and snorted or the liquid form can be vaporized and smoked. The potential for drug abuse is very high with this opioid. Professional behavioral health programs like Hotel California by the Sea provide treatment for those struggling with opioid use disorder.
We offer treatment at all levels of care, including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We utilize evidence-based methods such as CBT, DBT and family therapy. Hotel California by The Sea is dedicated to helping our clients overcome their addiction through a well-rounded treatment plan that addresses the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of addiction.
References:
https://www.addictionhelp.com/oxycodone/snorting
https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/crushing-snorting-pills
https://www.addictioncenter.com/opiates/oxycodone/snorting-oxycodone
https://www.harmonystuart.com/blog/smoking-oxycodone/
https://www.rehabcenter.net/oxycodone/smoking/
