Definition - What does Oxycodone mean?
Oxycodone is a synthetic opioid prescribed by a physician to mitigate moderate to severe pain levels in patients. In recent years, Oxycodone has garnered broad public attention for its depressive and sedative effects contributing to the prescription abuse epidemic. The biochemical reactions that occur in the brain remains uncertain, but it is believed that Oxycodone enhances the pain threshold in patients who ingest a regular dosage on a consistent basis.
SureHire explains Oxycodone
Oxycodone is one of the most detrimental narcotics available on the market in terms of addition and has resulted in many individuals resorting to doctor shopping. Because Oxycodone is classified as an opioid (synthetic opiate), many employers believe it is automatically incorporated in standard drug panel testing kits along with other primary opiates such as codeine and morphine. However, Oxycodone is considered an expanded opiate requiring companies to refer to a medical review officer (MRO) to include the opiate in a separate adjunct drug panel test.
Although many individuals use Oxycodone for legitimate reasons in alleviating pain, its side effects point to conflicting issues in the workplace that can disrupt productivity, lower morale, and increase Workers' Compensation benefits. With this class of prescription drugs, people can experience impaired cognition, slowed physical activity, nausea/vomiting, and marked drowsiness. Employees using Oxycodone can lead to more incidents and/or accidents resulting in injury(s) or death.
For applicants and/or employees, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows applicants and/or employees some leeway in using Oxycodone on the job unless employers deem its use is a direct hazard to personnel safety.
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