Percocet Abuse: Effects, Signs & Symptoms

Millions of people misuse Percocet and other prescription opioid painkillers every year, and most of those people develop an addiction.¹ Percocet addiction is very serious. This medication is a combination of the opioid oxycodone and the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen. Percocet is easy to overdose on, and the results can be fatal. When you recognize the signs of an opioid use disorder in yourself or someone you care about, reach out for professional evaluation, detox and treatment.

Symptoms and Side Effects of Percocet Abuse

Signs that someone you love is misusing Percocet should be taken seriously. Using this drug for any purpose other than as prescribed can quickly lead to an addiction. Recognize the signs that someone is high on Percocet so you can determine if your loved one is abusing it, and take steps to offer help. Opioid use causes confusion, euphoria, sleepiness, difficulty thinking and concentrating, slurred speech and impaired coordination, unusual mood changes, constipation and small pupils.

Signs of Percocet addiction

Signs of Percocet addiction are more behavioral, and they may be difficult to observe in someone else. But you can take a look at your own behaviors if you have been misusing the drug to decide if you need help. Only a mental health or addiction specialist can make a diagnosis of a substance use disorder, but you can self-evaluate using the same criteria they use.² Use these criteria as a guide to determine if your use of Percocet has become problematic. Even just one or two of these signs may indicate you have an opioid use disorder:

• Misusing Percocet has become an activity that takes up a lot of your time. You are either trying to get more, using it or recovering from it much of the time.
• Your use of Percocet is out of control, you can’t stop or slow down, and you consistently take larger doses or use it more often than you intended.
• When not using Percocet you find that you crave it intensely.
• Your time spent misusing drugs is interfering with your responsibilities.
• The time you spend on drugs is also getting in the way of activities you once enjoyed.
• The relationships you have with friends, family or a partner are suffering because you keep using Percocet.
• More than once you have put yourself in a dangerous situation while using the drug.
• Even though it is causing or worsening health problems, you keep misusing Percocet.
• You are developing a tolerance.
• You have withdrawal symptoms when not using Percocet.

Reach Out For Help

We provide holistic care and treatment using an individualized approach specifically tailored to your needs. Our holistic care and treatment is based on the best scientific evidence available. Secondly, we help you lead a healthy, substance-free life with adaptive coping and problem-solving skills. Don’t let Percocet addiction control your life. Our addiction professionals can help you get on a path of recovery, significantly changing your life. Contact us today for more information on our certified staff of professionals, as well as our first-rate facilities.