Oxycontin dependence and addiction is on the rise, especially with younger people. In a recent article published in Neuropsychopharmacology it is stated that while dependence for adolescents is decreasing for the illicit usage of things like cocaine and methamphetamine, the usage of pain killers, like Oxycontin, is on the rise at a 12% increase over the last year. The uptrend is credited to some pretty startling information in the brain functions of younger people.
In a recent study, there is evidence that when Oxycontin is introduced in young people there is a much higher sensitivity to the substance in their brains as opposed to older people. Basically, the Central Nervous System is not yet developed and when there is a predisposition to painkillers at an early age, the brain becomes “wired” differently. This early introduction to painkillers actually leads to changes in the developing brain that will result in a higher sensitivity to the substances later in life. So, in essence, its like a predisposition to the drug at an early age that leads to a much increased probability to usage later.
Now, while most usage of Oxycontin is from the purchase of the substance illigally among young people, there are still thousands of young people that are prescibed the substance for legitamate pain reasons. Their chances of later probelms of becoming addicted later in life simply because their system, phyisically, is learning to live with the narcotic from an early age will increase dramatically. It is very important to look at these situations and realize that the need for drug detoxification from painkillers should be done as soon as the person can. This holds true regardless if it is prescription usage or illegal usage. The earlier we can help get these young people off of these painkillers, the less chance this becomes a problem later in life where full blown addiction sets in and we now find the need for detoxification and long term drug rehabilitation.