The abuse of opioids intended for medical use among U.S. citizens, including minors, represents a crucial healthcare concern. In her awareness-building book targeted at teenagers, Ford (2021) reviews the detrimental health effects of various substances, including oxycodone. The selected substance is sold under various brand names and represents an FDA-approved pain management option mainly used in adults (Ford, 2021; Sadiq et al., 2021). The substance is highly addictive, making its controlled use a central priority.
Oxycodone represents a popular and effective pain management option, but its adverse effects call for monitoring its use carefully. This semi-synthetic drug is estimated to be only 1.5 and 2 times weaker compared to morphine in the immediate-release and prolonged-release formulations, respectively, thus demonstrating a pronounced addictive potential (Sadiq et al., 2021). The substance affects various opioid receptor types, including k, m, and d, thus reducing neuronal excitability levels and producing sedative/relaxing effects (Sadiq et al., 2021). The drug is indicated for use in a vast array of conditions with acute painful sensations or chronic pain that is moderate to strong in intensity (Sadiq et al., 2021). The substance is mostly prescribed when other, less addictive alternatives are of no use.
The reasons for selecting this particular substance for review stem from both the national situation and personal experiences. As one of the most popular opioids, oxycodone stored in houses represents an actual threat for children that may ingest it accidentally, thus developing emergency conditions. With that in mind, distributing information on this specific substance’s characteristics and utilization/storage rules is of great importance. Additionally, I have witnessed oxycodone’s adverse effects and addiction-forming capacity in two close relatives taking OxyContin for pain management in post-surgery periods. Apart from affecting normal bowel movements, which is a common adverse impact, the drug caused a range of effects, including excessive sweating, mood irregularities, and symptoms resembling influenza, after treatment termination. Due to threats to children and the risks of developing rather severe withdrawal symptoms, the nation should be aware of oxycodone’s effects to make well-considered treatment decisions, which explains my topic selection decision.
References
Ford, J. M. (2021). Prescription opioids: Affecting lives. Momentum.
Sadiq, N. M., Dice, T. J., & Mead, T. (2021). Oxycodone. StatPearls Publishing. Web.