The increased abuse of Opana, a prescription painkiller, has alarmed authorities, and measures are being put in place to curb this vice. Opana drug abuse currently beats that of the most preferred OxyContin. Prescription drugs, mostly painkillers, have been abused for decades, especially by teens. The increase in their (prescription drugs) abuse results from their effects (the surge in the production of the so-called happy hormone, which gives people an intense ‘high’), and the fact they are more available and cheaper than the hard drugs that provide similar side effects.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OPANA ABUSE
Opana drug abuse has peaked in the recent years as the preferred drug of choice, OxyContin, became successfully tamper-proofed. Most prescription drugs, Opana inclusive, are availed in varying forms including oral syrup/ liquid, powder, injectable liquids, dissolvable tablets and oral tablets. Oral tablets and syrup/ liquid must pass through the digestive system before they can be digested and released, gradually, into the blood system. This process takes hours and the experienced effects are delayed and mild. Cavity-dissolvable tablets/ powder, skin patches and injectable liquids, on the other hand, access the blood stream fast, inducing fast and intense side effects, including the sought ‘high’.
Prescription drug abusers often alter the original form of a drug to a form that can be administered into the blood stream fast. The manufacturers of OxyContin moved to reduce the ability of drug abusers to alter the original form of OxyContin, which reduced their ability to ingest the drug faster and experience fast, intense high. Opana drug abuse resulted from the fact that it is just as potent as OxyContin, and drug abusers can crush the tablets into powder that can be snorted or dissolved and injected into the bloodstream, releasing an instant and intense high. Unfortunately, ingesting a drug in any manner (form, frequency and mixture) other than prescribed poses serious health risks, and Opana drug abuse has been on the limelight for numerous overdoses.
Authorities have moved to reduce the form-alteration of Opana to reduce its abuse. However, old stock is still in supply, and Opana drug abusers will continue abusing this drug until it is no longer accessible. Authorities fear that curbing prescription drug abuse will be harder than simply banning the production of alterable forms of drugs, since drug abusers simply move to the next potent drug whose form can be altered for an instant administration and intense high. Follow us for more information and resources on drug abuse and treatment.
