One factor, among many, contributing to Percocet teen abuse is the drug’s easy accessibility. If a teen’s or a friend of the teen’s parent or guardian has been prescribed Percocet, or any other prescription drug for that matter, many teens need not look any farther than their family medicine cabinet. This practice is often referred to as “pharming,” short for pharmaceuticals.

Most teens abuse Percocet in order to feel numb and the affects of the drug allow them to disconnect from their individual circumstances. Unfortunately, a significant number of teens abuse Percocet recreationally. They attend “pharm” parties where they abuse Percocet in order to have a good time with their friends and fit into the social norm.

Is My Teen Abusing Percocet?

As with most prescription drug abuse cases, telltale warning signs are visible to friends and family of the abuser.

Signs of Percocet abuse include:

• Extremely dilated pupils
• Facial itching
• Rapid speech
• Hyper activity
• Difficulty listening during conversation
• Mood swings
• Changes in appetite
• Inability to control emotions
• Constipation
• Oversleep or inability to fall asleep

Percocet Teen Abuse Help

For many teens, talking to their parents about their problems is virtually unheard of. So, if you are concerned that your teen is abusing Percocet, please do not hesitate to call us at our toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours to answer any questions you may have about Percocet teen abuse.

It’s not simply because of celebrity connections or friends, but because the drug pushing medical field sees the obvious appeal of free direct financial reward and the notoriety and publicity that comes from caring for high profile patients. Others will assume, correctly or not, that you must be an exceptional clinician if the celebrities are vying for your services. This assumption may appear reasonable on face value but many times fails under closer examination.

Medical Professional Endorsement

It’s a simple fact that people promote doctors that they like. Patients many times cannot adequately assess ability or medical intellect but they are excellent judges of affability.

Celebrities recognize the very real monetary value of their active and passive endorsement. A celebrity promotes a doctor just by being seen leaving their office.

With that being said, doctors are quick and eager to write out prescription medications at the simple drop of a request and dare not deny a celebrity a presciption for Percocet or OxyContin or any other medication for fear of being propelled back into the slums of the medical profression. For instance, Maggie Gyllenhaal recently appeared on Letterman talking very candidly about a recent hospital visit. Maggie told a tale of a nurse who aided her with a broken toe was more than eager to push bundles of those morphine-patches-disguised-as-”painkillers”—Percocets—on her patients.

Michael Jackson’s Drug Abuse

Michael Jackson had been abusing prescription drugs for years according to his longtime friend, doctor and author Deepak Chopra. Chopra revealed that in the past he had refused to prescribe the star strong medication and blamed “drug peddling Hollywood doctors” for feeding his need and causing his death.

In an interview with CNN, Chopra listed the drugs he knew Jackson was taking including strong painkillers; one latter dubbed ‘Hillybilly Heroin.’

“There are a plethora of doctors in Hollywood,” said Chopra. “They are drug peddlers, they are drug pushers they just happen to have a medical license.”

When pushed on the drugs Jackson was taking by host Wolf Blitzer, Chopra replied, “At one time I knew about OxyContin. I knew that he would get injections of Demerol and other narcotics. I was really desperate to try and help him but you can’t help somebody who is going to deny it. In my belief, from what I know, he was (addicted).”

Heath Ledger Drug Use

The actor Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose of six different drugs — painkillers and sedatives — leading doctors to warn of the dangers of mixing prescription drugs. The 28-year-old film star died “of acute intoxication” from the combination of two strong painkillers, two anti-anxiety medicines and two sleeping aids. Among the drugs found in his body were oxycodone, a painkiller sold as OxyContin and used in other pain relievers such as Percodan and Percocet.

Phish Member Trey Anastasio Arrest

Former Phish member Trey Anastasio was arrested for a DUI. Police noted Anastasio was having difficulty keeping his vehicle within his lane of travel. During the DUI investigation police discovered various painkillers including Percocet, Xanax and hydrocodone.

Hollywood Deaths

It’s a very real predicament in the lives of many and Hollywood is no exception. The increase of Percocet related deaths have caused the drug to be up for debate by the FDA in deciding whether to take it and Vicodin off the market. Other notable celebrity deaths, due to the involvement of prescription painkillers include:

• Kevyn Aucoin – photographer & make-up artist.
• Lester Bangs – musician, writer
• Eric Douglas – stand-up comedian
• Elizabeth Hulette – professional wrestling manager
• Russell Jones (a.k.a. Ol’ Dirty Bastard) – hip hop musician
• Aaron Lynch – writer on memetics

Percocet Abuse on Television

Nowadays, seeing the abuse of the drug on television is becoming more normal as popularity of the drug increases. Edie Falco in Showtime’s original series Nurse Jackie, snorts Percocet as part of her daily routine.

Percocet Help

If you or someone you know is struggling with a percocet addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your questions on percocet addiction and treatment.

There are a number of slang terms that people use to talk about Percocet and they vary according to location and trends, popular songs of the moment and inside code words. There are, however, a number of terms that are relatively well known and refer to Percocet across different age groups and population groups:

• Percs
• Paulas
• Roxicotten
• Roxi’s
• Blue dynamite (the 15-30 Percocet with no Tylenol)
• 512s (refers to the generic brand that prints 512 on the round white 5mg Percocet pill)

Understanding Oxycodone and Names

As studies have shown the abuse of such painkillers like Percocet increasing, employers are now initializing a more rigorous opiate screening when conducting drug tests on new employees. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH) showed that lifetime use of oxycodone increased 47 percent. Subsequently and more recently, Employer Solutions’ new FDA-cleared screening technology has a specific reagent that can detect oxycodone in opiate drug screening panels. In a pilot study by Quest Diagnostics using 20,000 specimens, the positive rates for oxycodone alone increased from 0.19 percent to 0.53 percent- an increase of over 150 percent using the new, expanded panel. In addition, the Drug Abuse Warning Network showed that oxycodone single use (not in combination with other drugs) increased a staggering 295 percent.

For these reasons, as well as the growing concern for individuals who are becoming more and more addicted to oxycodone (i.e. Percocet), understanding and knowing how it is referred to will only broaden a person’s capacity to be aware of the drug itself. Oxycodone can also be found in or heard under various brand names such as:

• Endocet®
• Endodan®
• Percodan®
• OxyContin®
• OxyFast®
• OxyIR®
• Roxicet®
• Tylox®
• Roxicodone
• Endocodone
• Oxy
• Oxy 80s
• OxyContin
• Oxydose
• OxyFast (liquid)
• OxylR
• Percolone

These prescribed drugs are obtained on the street from numerous sources or from individuals, who visit many different doctors with fake symptoms to obtain multiple prescriptions for the drugs, commonly known as doctor shopping. Mixing these substances can also be heard as pharming.

Oxycodone can be found in multiple mixtures of other drugs and can be heard under street names such as:

• 40, 80 (referring to dosage size)
• Blue
• Hillbilly heroin
• Kicker
• Killers
• Ocs
• Oxycotton
• Poor Man’s Heroin

Percocet Help

If you or someone you know is struggling with a Percocet addiction, we can help. Please call the toll free number at (866) 872-6492. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your questions on Percocet addiction and treatment.

The vast majority of Americans believe that drug abuse is someone else’s concern. They do not realize that they as taxpayers pay billions of dollars each year for treatment and justice costs associated with drug addiction. Drug abuse in America is clearly no small issue. Americans also have the misconception that drug abusers fit into a narrow, stereotypical category. Most would be shocked to know that almost three quarters of all drug addicts have steady jobs. Another alarming fact is that nearly half of the American public knows someone with a drug addiction problem, though they are not always aware of it.

Percocet in America

Prescription drugs like Percocet are becoming a drug of choice all over America, especially among young people. Teenagers and young adults account for the majority of Percocet abuse. Sadly, many of these teenagers, young adults and parents alike believe that abusing prescription drugs is safer than others because they are developed by scientists and legally distributed versus concocted in someone’s house and dealt illegally. Teenagers commonly admit to attending “pharm” parties, short for pharmaceuticals. They also confess to stealing a variety of prescription drugs, like Percocet, from their family medicine cabinet. This can be extremely dangerous because it encourages the mixing of prescription drugs and other substances, which can lead to a host of serious, sometimes fatal, side effects.

Percocet Studies

In a 2008 national Monitoring the Future survey, around 9 percent of American 12th graders reported using either Percocet, Oxycontin, or Vicodin in the past year. In the same study, over 30 percent of 12th graders said that those drugs were “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain without a prescription. Easy accessibility can result from “pharming” or obtaining the drug at “pharm” parties or raves.

As with most opiates, Percocet abuse can cause the user’s body to develop a tolerance for the drug within a few weeks. Addiction may begin when the person takes Percocet for any other reason besides pain or when they take more than prescribed by their healthcare provider. Once an addiction has developed, the abuser must continually increase the dosage amount to achieve the same initial effects. As the addict abuses higher quantities of the drug over time, physical dependence and addiction can quickly develop. Because the chemicals in Percocet alter natural brain function, making the person not only mentally crave the drug but physically as well. Kicking a Percocet habit is not as simple as pouring a bottle of alcohol down the kitchen sink. At this point, the body has adapted to the drug’s presence and serious withdrawal symptoms will likely occur if the abuse is halted.

The Cost of Percocet Addiction

Percocet use, like all opioids, is regulated. However, it is not uncommon for pharmacies to be broken into because of addicts’ cravings for Percocet. Also, if the drug is sold on the black market it can bring in approximately $5 to $10 per pill.

The health and social costs of drug addiction on American society are ever climbing. Illnesses related to drug addiction, death, and crime cost the country approximately $66.9 billion every year. In America every man, woman, and child pays almost $1,000 every year towards extra law-enforcement, crime, and unneeded healthcare because of drug abuse. We cannot adequately measure the full effect substance abuse has on our country. We have no way of knowing just how many lives, neighborhoods, schools, families, and businesses have been affected by drug abuse. The number may be something we are not ready to hear. As drug-related crime rates continue to soar, we continually try to pass the concern to someone else. However, until we accept and share this social responsibility we cannot expect radical change.

Percocet Abuse Treatment

Percocet is a highly addictive prescription painkiller that if abused can lead to extremely serious consequences for everyone, not just the abuser. If you or someone you know is abusing Percocet, please call our toll free number day or night at (866) 872-6492. We are waiting to answer any question you may have concerning Percocet abuse and treatment options.