What is OxyContin®?

OxyContin® is the brand name for a prescription painkilling drug produced by Purdue Pharmaceuticals. OxyContin® tablets contain oxycodone hydrochloride, a powerful narcotic that is generally prescribed for moderate to severe chronic pain. Oxycodone HCL is an agonist opioid, a category of drugs derived from the opium poppy, and is similar to morphine and heroin. Agonist opioids have an increasing analgesic effect, which means that they have much higher pain relief potential. OxyContin® can provide up to four times the pain relief of aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

OxyContin® tablets are designed with a time-release mechanism that allows the drug to be released into the body over a period of 12 hours. OxyContin® is available in a wide range of doses - containing anywhere from 10mg to 160mg of oxycodone HCL per pill. Patients who take OxyContin® every day develop a tolerance to the drug, and higher doses are gradually needed. Over time, patients can develop a physical dependence to oxycodone HCL. These patients may experience significant withdrawal symptoms if they are not weaned slowly off the narcotic.

Because of powerful pain relieving capabilities and the ability to deliver this relief over extended periods of time, OxyContin® is hailed as a miracle drug by those who suffer from severe, long-lasting pain. Unfortunately, OxyContin® has a high potential for abuse. Chewing the tablets, or crushing them and either snorting or injecting the drug, can bypass the controlled release mechanism. This delivers the opiate all at once, producing a feeling of euphoria reportedly similar to heroin. People who abuse OxyContin® in this manner can overdose or become addicted. OxyContin® addiction can be extremely difficult to break.

OxyContin® Abuse and Addiction

OxyContin® abuse has reached near epidemic proportions in some areas of the country. Popularly known as "hillbilly heroin" on the street, OxyContin® is highly sought after for its euphoric effects. Unlike heroin, OxyContin® is a pharmaceutical grade narcotic produced in a range of doses with reliable potency. These qualities make OxyContin® attractive because drug purchasers know exactly what they are getting. As a result, some scams have been developed to obtain OxyContin® fraudulently. One involves lying about or exaggerating painful symptoms to a medical doctor in an effort to receive an OxyContin® prescription. Some unethical doctors have also written false prescriptions. Furthermore, legitimate or fraudulently obtained prescriptions alike can be filled at several different pharmacies. In some cases, the government may even ends up paying for these scams through programs like Medicaid. There have also been reports of pharmacy robberies where the robbers were targeting OxyContin® specifically. Because of this, some pharmacies refuse to carry OxyContin®.

Although OxyContin® may seem less hazardous than more notorious drugs, it has been linked to a number of overdoses and addictions. Novice oxycodone HCL users are particularly susceptible to overdose because they have not developed a tolerance to the drug. A dose that would be acceptable for a daily user could kill someone else. Additionally, because OxyContin® is designed for timed release, the sudden rush of oxycodone HCL one gets from chewing, snorting, or injecting OxyContin® can be overpowering. Furthermore, oxycodone HCL can interact with other drugs like alcohol, multiplying the effects. Symptoms of OxyContin® overdose pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, confusion, and drowsiness. Respiratory depression can lead to respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, and death. Someone who has overdosed on OxyContin® may appear to fall asleep, then die while when vital systems shut down

OxyContin® abusers come from all walks of life. Some are former patients who begin to abuse the drug for its euphoric effects rather than pain relief. Often abusers fit the classic profile of a heroin addict; they have simply found a more reliable source of narcotics. Regardless of how one becomes addicted, OxyContin® addiction can be tremendously hard to overcome. The withdrawal symptoms are similar to those of heroin, and it is highly recommended that those afflicted seek professional treatment. There are a number of drug rehabilitation centers that can accommodate patients addicted to OxyContin®. Those who do not succeed in breaking their addiction to OxyContin® can suffer a multitude of health and personal issues.