How is Oxycontin Used

The power painkiller OxyContin is being abused by more and more people across the nation. The heroin-like effects of the drug attract both legitimate and illegitimate users.

When used properly, OxyContin contains a time-release mechanism that spreads the release of the drug over a 12-hour period. The time-release mechanism can be circumvented by crushing the tablet and the drug can be used in one of the following ways:

  • The tablets can be chewed
  • The tablets can be crushed, then snorted like cocaine
  • The tablets can be crushed, dissolved in water, then injected like heroin

OxyContin abuse is spreading for a variety of reasons. First, the elevated opiate dosage makes it highly addictive. Second, in contrast to drugs such as cocaine or heroin that can be laced with other substances, with OxyContin you know how much of the drug you are getting; the dosage is consistent, so it is a dependable high. Finally, OxyContin is covered by most health insurance plans, so it is significantly cheaper than street drugs. (OxyContin has been referred to as "hillbilly heroin" or "the poor man's heroin.")

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Preface: The following is a summary of an ongoing study of medical examiner data regarding OxyContin® that is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).The DEA wrote letters to 775 medical examiners (MEs) from the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) requesting their reports (autopsy, toxicology, and ME investigative reports) on all deaths induced by, associated with, or related to oxycodone and/or, specifically, the oxycodone product, OxyContin® for 2000 and 2001. Based on the criteria described below, the reports received were categorized into four groups: 1) OxyContin® verified deaths; 2) OxyContin® likely deaths; 3) undetermined deaths; and 4) incomplete reports.
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