I was at a recovery center the other day doing some IT work for the counselors there, all of whom are friends of mine in recovery. I was talking to some of them and was told that today’s huge problem was Oxycontin. Today’s youth are getting more and more addicted to Oxycontin because they think if it’s a legal drug, as opposed to heroin, they won’t get addicted.

The fact of the matter is that Oxycontin is addictive and the youth are finding out that it is addictive when they try to stop, or they can’t get anymore. The unfortunate truth with running out and not being able to get anymore is they go into a painful opiate withdrawal.

Anyone who hasn’t been through an opiate withdrawal, and doesn’t know what to expect, is in for a very unpleasant and  unexpected surprise. Withdrawal from Oxycontin is very painful, and can be literally debilitating. It’s not uncommon to hear from teenagers who are going through opiate withdrawal for the first time, to say they feel like they are dying or that it’s killing them.

Yes, it’s that bad.

Here’s a list for anyone who doesn’t know what it’s like:

The signs of withdrawal:

Early Signs

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Muscle aches
• Increased tearing
• Insomnia
• Runny nose/Sneezing
• Sweating
• Yawning

Advanced signs:

• Abdominal cramping
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Goose bumps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• curling up in a fetal position

Many of the youth are finding out all too late that Oxycontin is a very addictive drug and find themselves addicted to Oxycontin when it’s just a little too late.

Oxycontin is also known as HillBilly Heroin, Cotton, Kicker, Oxy, 40, 40-Bar and Oxy cotton.