What does OxyContin look like?What does OxyContin look like?
How is OxyContin abused?How is OxyContin abused?
What is OxyContin?What is OxyContin?
Who abuses OxyContin?Who abuses OxyContin?
What are the risks?What are the risks?
What is OxyContin called?What is OxyContin called?
What is OxyContin?
What does OxyContin look like?
OxyContin, a trade name for the
narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride, is a
painkiller available in the United
States only by prescription. OxyContin
is legitimately prescribed for relief of
moderate to severe pain resulting from
injuries, bursitis, neuralgia, arthritis,
and cancer. Individuals abuse
OxyContin for the euphoric effect it
produces—an effect similar to that
associated with heroin use.
OxyContin is available as a 10
milligram (mg), 20 mg, 40 mg, or 80
mg tablet. The tablets vary in color
and size according to dosage. The
tablets are imprinted with the letters
OC on one side and the number of
milligrams on the opposite side.
How is OxyContin abused?
Who abuses OxyContin?
What are the risks?
OxyContin tablets have a controlled-
release feature and are designed to be
swallowed whole. In order to bypass the
controlled-release feature, abusers
either chew or crush the tablets.
Crushed tablets can be snorted or
dissolved in water and injected.
Individuals of all ages abuse
OxyContin—data reported in the
National Household Survey on Drug
Abuse indicate that nearly 1 million
U.S. residents aged 12 and older used
OxyContin nonmedically at least once
in their lifetime.
OxyContin abuse among high school
students is a particular problem. Four
percent of high school seniors in the
United States abused the drug at least
once in the past year, according to the
University of Michigan’s Monitoring the
Future Survey.
Individuals who abuse OxyContin
risk developing tolerance for the drug,
meaning they must take increasingly
higher doses to achieve the same
effects. Long-term abuse of the drug
can lead to physical dependence and
addiction. Individuals who become
dependent upon or addicted to the
drug may experience withdrawal
symptoms if they cease using the drug.
Withdrawal symptoms associated with
OxyContin dependency or addiction
include restlessness, muscle and bone
pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting,
cold flashes, and involuntary leg
movements.
Individuals who take a large dose of
OxyContin are at risk of severe respira-
tory depression that can lead to death.
Inexperienced and new users are at
particular risk, because they may be
unaware of what constitutes a large
dose and have not developed a toler-
ance for the drug.
In addition, OxyContin abusers who
inject the drug expose themselves to
additional risks, including contracting
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus),
hepatitis B and C, and other blood-
borne viruses.
The most common names for
OxyContin are OCs, ox, and oxy.
(Please see the Street Terms text box
for additional names.)
What is OxyContin called?
40 (a 40-milligram tablet)
80 (an 80-milligram tablet)
Blue
Hillbilly heroin
Kicker
Oxycotton
Street Terms for OxyContinStreet Terms for OxyContin
Street Terms for OxyContin
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Fast FactsFast Facts
Fast Facts
Fast Facts
Is it illegal to abuse OxyContin?Is it illegal to abuse OxyContin?
OxyContin
OxyContin
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Is it illegal to abuse OxyContin?
Yes, abusing OxyContin is
illegal. OxyContin is a Schedule II
substance under the Controlled
Substances Act. Schedule II drugs,
which include cocaine and meth-
amphetamine, have a high poten-
tial for abuse. Abuse of these drugs
may lead to severe psychological or
physical dependence.
Cover photo: courtesy of Roger Kerekes,
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA
NDIC Product No. 2003-L0559-019
National Drug Intelligence Center
U.S. Department of Justice
a component of the
081903
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