Percocet addiction does not affect any specific group. It has permeated American culture and shown no prejudice towards age, race, gender, or class. As this painkiller and others like it are prescribed more often, the numbers of those who suffer from Percocet addiction continue to climb.

Percocet is a combination acetaminophen and oxycodone. Acetaminophen stops the production of prostaglandin which otherwise cause pain while oxycodone, an opium derivative, functions as a narcotic analgesic, altering the user's perception of pain and generating a sense of contentment, or even euphoria. This dual affect of the drug makes it can create a psychological addiction in the user. The fact that the oxycodone present in the drug is physically addictive as well, makes Percocet addiction difficult to treat.

Treatment for Percocet Addiction

Traditional detoxification or rehabilitation techniques have generally had low success rates (10%) when it comes to treating painkiller addiction. Most treatments provide some form of psychological therapy coupled with medication to deal with the effects of withdrawal. However, the body is often not rid of its physical addiction, which causes many to return to using after they have finished treatment.

Rapid detox treatments have gained prominence over the past decade. Practices, such as the Waismann Method, treat Percocet addiction as a chemical imbalance that can be treated at the brain's opiate receptor level. This method offers a patient the opportunity to rid himself of physical addiction in days instead of months. Specialists believe that the treatment also allows a patient to avoid the suffering and fear that often accompany withdrawal.