OxyContin is one of the newer long acting and powerful pain medication that is used in the treatment if patients who suffer from pain related to cancer and other debilitating conditions.

OxyContin contains the drug oxycodone, which is a common drug used in pain relievers such as Percocet and Percodan; however the concentration of oxycodone is higher in OxyContin.

Effects of OxyContin are similar to heroin or morphine. (Euphoria, sleepy, tired) OxyContin is a respiratory depressant. When it is used with other depressants like alcohol or other depressant drugs you have the accumulative effects which causes your breathing to stop, cardiovascular system stops functioning, your heart stops and you die.

As of April 16, 2001 there were 120 deaths nation wide attributed to OxyContin. According to News reports, in the first six months of this year (2001) Florida has experienced 243 overdoses and out of that number, Palm Beach County 54 deaths, St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties had a total of 35 deaths due to the misuse of this drug. Much of the abuse can be attributed to physicians writing unnecessary prescriptions. Oxycodone is synthesized from the baine. It is similar to codeine, but is more potent and has a higher dependence potential.

OxyContin is designed as a time-released tablet to be taken orally. Addicts and abusers often chew or crush the tablets and snort the powder. Because oxycodone is water soluble, crushed tablets can also be dissolved in water and then injected and "mainline" the active drug which no longer has the time-release feature.

The illegal use of OxyContin, as well as other prescription drugs, has increased recently. The 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSD) showed that approximately 9% of the U.S. population (19.9 million people) have used pain relievers illegally in their lifetime. This increase in illegal use has been especially apparent on the East Coast. The increase in the abuse of OxyContin has lead to an increased number if pharmacy robberies and health care fraud incidents.

Common Street Names:

• Oxy

• "OC"

• OC Killer

• Oxycotton

Symptoms of Overdose:

• Slow breathing

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Seizures

• Confusion

• Loss of Consciousness

• Tiredness

• Cold Clammy Skin

• Small Pupils

• Coma

Side Effects:

• Headache

• Confusion

• Dryness of the mouth

• Nausea/Vomiting

• Sweating

• Lightheadedness

• Respiratory Depression