How can the use of the "dangerous substance" oxycodone increase so strongly?

It also gave him a feeling of euphoria. It has been said an effect that only one in ten experience. But when the pain subsided and Sandra stopped swallowing the tablets, a very long time began for her. "I was very depressed and suicidal for a week and a half … I had to tell myself every day: it's because of the medication."

Sandra has a history of addiction. She had been told that the painkiller could be addictive, but according to her, she had not been questioned about her personal history in this area. She feels that she has received too much stock at the same time. "It's really dangerous."

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When less than 200,000 people were using oxycodone in 2012, that number increased in 2017 to reach about 500,000 users. In February, Secretary of State Blokhuis mentioned the following in a letter to the House of Representatives (.pdf): he acts well as a painkiller, he pays more attention to the management of pain and is often prescribed for disorders other than cancer

. Bouvy agrees with this last point. "You see more and more people with, for example, chronic back or shoulder pain where normal painkillers do not work, so the doctors stand back and think: let's try, they would not have never did that before. " [19659002] Growing aging is also playing a role in the increase. After all, older people often suffer from severe pain, for example due to cancer.

What are the risks?

Oxycodone can cause blockages and other long-term intestinal disorders. This is especially a risk for the elderly if they exercise little and do not eat well. In this case, surgery is sometimes necessary to correct the blockage.

In addition, the anesthetic effect of the opioid increases the risk of falling. Older people can break something so fast. "The immediate environment also says that people become more irritable," says Bouvy.

On the other hand, if the alternative means unbearable and incessant pain, then users will eventually face these possible side effects. In addition, each analgesic has undesirable side effects. But that 's why it is important for patients to realize that the risk of addiction is hiding in the oxycodone.