OxyContin, a prescription painkiller, is widely used for moderate to high pain relief in patients with trauma, low back disorders, cancer, and following surgery. Abusers crush the timed-release form of the drug and then snort or inject it to cause a strong morphine-like high.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), “The introduction in 1996 of OxyContin, commonly known on the street as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton, Hillbilly heroin, and kicker, led to a marked escalation of its abuse as reported by drug abuse treatment centers, law enforcement personnel, and health care professionals.” The DEA also acknowledges that with a 75% increase in criminal activities related to OxyContin® abuse, challenging law enforcement and healthcare resources throughout the country.
Oxycontin abusers gain access to the drug by means of fraudulent prescriptions, over-prescribing by some physicians, doctor shopping, pharmacy theft, drug dealers, and smuggling into the United States.
Recently, Purdue Pharma LLC, one of the manufacturers of OxyContin claimed that adding a plastic-like coating to the tablets makes them harder to crush. However, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel called for more testing.
