"Percoset" is a common misspelling of "Percocet," the name for a prescription medication that contains oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is an opioid that has become notorious of late due to several well-publicized instances of celebrity drug abuse involving this particular mediation. Opioids attach to receptors in the brain to diminish the feeling of pain and are highly effective when used appropriately. The relaxation and euphoria associated with this pain reduction can tempt the user to abuse the drug. As many have discovered, abuse can lead to disastrous consequences.
Addiction
Opioid drugs such as Percocet are more commonly abused than any other prescription medication, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens. Percocet is highly addictive. Those who are prescribed Percocet for a prolonged period may develop a tolerance to the drug, as the body adapts to the dosage. Withdrawal from the drug has prompted symptoms of psychosis in some patients, as well tremors, anxiety, insomnia, abdominal cramps and agitation. Drugs.com notes that doctors should be notified regarding any patient history of addiction before prescribing Percocet.
Overdose
An accidental or intentional overdose of Percocet can be fatal. This powerful drug, when taken in inappropriate dosages, can cause extreme fatigue. Users may be unable to maintain consciousness and once asleep, may be extremely resistant to the attempts of others to wake them.
Respiratory difficulties are the most dangerous consequence of overdose. Breathing can become shallow and slow to the point of stopping completely. Overdoses are treated with an antidote called naloxone, which itself has numerous severe and distressing side effects. Delaying of treatment for an overdose of Percocet may result in permanent brain damage to the drug abuser.
Drug-Related Crime
Sujata S. Jayawant, of the University of Houston Department of Clinical Sciences and Administration, reports that the highly addictive nature of Percocet creates an environment where users are inspired to commit criminal acts to support their habit, and suppliers take advantage of Medicaid and prescription fraud in order to illegally profit from sales of the drug.
With increasing numbers of abusers, oxycodone-related crimes have also increased. Those with legitimate prescriptions sometimes sell their Percocet at high profit margins. Pharmacies have at times stopped stocking the drug to avoid robberies. Measures have been developed to provide doctors with tamper-resistant prescriptions pads for the drug.
References
- MedlinePlus: Hydrocodone/Oxycodone Overdose
- NIDA for Teens: Busting the Myths and Misconceptions About Prescription Drug Abuse
- Drugs: Percocet
- "Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management"; The Controversy Surrounding OxyContin Abuse: Issues and Solutions; Sujata S. Jayawant and Rajesh Balkrishnan; June 2005
- "Journal of Emergency Medicine"; Trauma and Substance Abuse: Deadly Consequences of Intravenous Percocet Tablets; J.M. Galante, S. Ahmad, E.A. Albers, M.J. Sena; January 2010
