Percocet Abuse Facts

facts about Percocets

FACT: Percocet is a combination of oxyodone and Acetaminophen. The Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a common pain reliever, but the addition of the oxycodone, an opiate, makes Percocet far more powerful.

FACT: The reason for using the two drugs in combination is that the Acitominiphen makes the oxycodone more efficient.

FACT: Percocet is available only by prescription and is considered a Schedule II drug.

FACT: Percocet acts similarly to morphine. It can be administered in several ways, but commonly by mouth.

FACT: Percocet is manufactured to allow a slow time release of the oxycodone. If the pill is cut or crushed, the release of the oxycodone could be life threatening.

FACT: Percocet has been proven effective for moderate to severe main and is commonly used to help cancer patients.

FACT: Percocet, like other opiate pain medications, is highly addictive and widely abused.

FACT: Prolonged use of Percocet can lead to the user craving the drug. Over time, the user builds up a tolerance and requires more drug to achieve the same effect. If no drug is available, the user will go into withdrawal.

This combination of physical and psychological addiction makes Percocet, like other opiates, problematic for those who have gone too far with it, these Percocet abuse facts are what makes street use of "percs" so common.

FACT: Percocet addiction occurs more in women, adolescents and seniors. However, the fastest growing group is adolescents who use the drug for recreational purposes a very sad set of Percocet abuse facts.

FACT: Percocet, like other opiate medications come from the opium poppy plant, which has for countless centuries been used for pain relief.

FACT: Opiates have been used and abused for just as long.

FACT: Over 6000 years ago it was discovered that the white, milky substance that oozed from the plant’s unripe seeds would dry into a sticky brown gum and could be eaten. The scientific name is papaver somniferum, otherwise known as opium. The raw alkaloids, codeine and morphine are produced naturally in the plant. In small amounts it could be useful in controlling pain, or giving relaxation these are the Percocet abuse facts doctors use.


FACT: The codeine alkaloid is the basis for commonly prescribed pain medications such as Hydrocodone (Vicadin), Oxycodone (OxyContin) and Acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol 2, 3,4). That’s where Percocet fits in.


FACT: Taken as prescribed by a doctor, Percocet should not cause major problems, but human nature always pushes the limits. People will take too much, too often thinking that more is better. Women are more apt to go to a doctor for help than are men. Help with pain relief is the trigger. Taken as directed it is not an issue, but when a person takes too much, too often, problems arise.

FACT: Addiction to Percocet, a narcotic, is a major health and social problem in the world.

FACT: When abused, Percocet produces a “rush” or “high” that users seek. This feeling of euphoria is followed by drowsiness.

FACT: Percocet and other opiates can cause respiratory failure, high blood pressure, cardiac arrest, coma and even death, these Percocet abuse facts shouldn’t be ignored but often are.

FACT: Users can develop a psychological dependence on the drug, thinking they must use in order to feel “normal.”

FACT: Percocet addiction usually develops over time, but it is characterized by the inability of the person to stop using.

FACT: Percocet addiction is a brain disease.

FACT: Addiction to Percocet and other substances is not curable, but it is manageable through treatment and recovery programs.

FACT: Many unsuspecting parents and grandparents leave their unused Percocet in the bathroom medicine cabinet where they can be easily taken by children. Kids who take these drugs quickly learn how to abuse them. Children who use these drugs realize soon that they are expensive and will seek out street heroin dealers, who offer the same high, but less expensive.

FACT: Many opiate deaths are the result of overdose. Users do not realize or understand when they have taken too much, a sad but common cause of overdose because of these Percocet abuse facts.

FACT: Percocet addicts may avoid treatment because they are afraid of withdrawal, which can be rather unpleasant but rarely fatal. They crave the drug and experience muscle and bone pain, insomnia, restlessness, nausea and vomiting, sweating, involuntary muscle twitches, dry mouth.

FACT: Percocet withdrawal will usually peak between 48-72 hours after the last use. But withdrawal can last much longer, depending on the individual.


FACT: Percocet addicts, like other addicts will often relapse while in recovery. Addicts may have to go into treatment several times before success is realized.

Percocet Abuse facts at http://www.nida.nih.gov

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