•Oxycontin is in the opioid classOxycontin is in the opioid class

•Oxycontin comes as tablets or Oxycontin comes as tablets or caplets, comes in 10, 20, 40, 60, or 80 caplets, comes in 10, 20, 40, 60, or 80 mg doses, and has “OC” on one side, mg doses, and has “OC” on one side, and the other has the doses on itand the other has the doses on it

•Oxycontin is also called Kicker, OC, Oxycontin is also called Kicker, OC, OX, Blue, Oxycotton, hillbilly OX, Blue, Oxycotton, hillbilly heroin, oxy, killer, and cottonheroin, oxy, killer, and cotton

•Oxycontin was invented in 1995 by Purdue Pharma, although oxycodone,oxycodone, the

main ingredient in oxycontin, had been around since 6 decades earlier

•Oxycontin was the first major pain killer, at the time, to work for 12 hours.

Previous pain killers had only worked for two or three hours at a time.

•Massive sales of Oxycontin led to the rapid spread of abuse of the drug

•Heavy restrictions were put on the drug as abuse spread

Short Term EffectsShort Term Effects•Analgesia, sedation, euphoria, relaxation, Analgesia, sedation, euphoria, relaxation, respiratory depression, cough suppression, respiratory depression, cough suppression, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, headache, dry vomiting, constipation, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, sweating, and weaknessmouth, sweating, and weakness

Long Term EffectsLong Term Effects•Severe respiratory depression cold, clammy skin, Severe respiratory depression cold, clammy skin, respiratory arrest, and death respiratory arrest, and death

•Withdrawal Symptoms: anxiety, Withdrawal Symptoms: anxiety, nausea, muscle pain, fevers, nausea, muscle pain, fevers,

insomnia, and flu-like symptoms insomnia, and flu-like symptoms

•Professional medical treatment, Professional medical treatment, such as in rehab centers, is required such as in rehab centers, is required to quit abusing Oxycontin after to quit abusing Oxycontin after becoming addicted becoming addicted

Oxycontin should not be taken during Oxycontin should not be taken during pregnancy, as the baby could be born with pregnancy, as the baby could be born with respiratory depressionrespiratory depression

•3.5 million Americans use Oxycontin for nonmedical uses

•Oxycontin is a time-release drug when taken correctly, but when crushing

and chewing the tablets, the drug is released all at once in dangerous

concentrations

•Genetic forms of Oxycontin were first released in 2004

•When the drug was first released, it was called the “miracle drug”

•The street price for illegally buying Oxycontin is anywhere from $25-$40

•Some people use Oxycontin to bring heroin and morphine withdrawal

symptoms under control

Other commonly abused perscription drugs include:

•MorphineMorphine

•VicodinVicodin

•www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/oxycodone.asp

•www.michaelshouse.com/oxycontin-rehab/history-of-oxycontin.html

•OxyContin Fast Facts, database Consumer Health Complete

•www.usdoj-gov/dea/concern/oxycontin.html

•www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/oxycontin-addiction-abuse-and-treatment_16.html