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| My addiction to this narcotic began with a prescription of Vicoden. After abusing it for the weeks following a surgery that I had was told by friends that one OxyContin® was equal, in potency to a few Vicoden pills.… E.C. Purdue Pharmacy introduced OxyContin® in 1995 as a controlled release formulation of OxyCodone. It was intended for use in the treatment of chronic moderate to severe pain when a continuous, potent, narcotic pain reliever is needed for an extended period. OxyContin® contains a large amount of active pain reliever as compared to other narcotic products. OxyContin® has become the number one prescribed Schedule II (Schedule II controlled substances, including OxyContin®, are approved for medical use, and have the highest abuse potential among controlled substances approved for medical use) narcotic in the United States right now. It has led to an increase of associated criminal activity and has been linked to at least 803 overdose deaths nationwide. Sales exceeded $1 billion dollars in the year of 2000. Not only have I done extensive research on this drug but at the age of 20 I became addicted. Known on the streets by names like Oxy and OC, OxyContin® the narcotic oxycodone to patients battling pain from cancer or other debilitating conditions. OxyContin® itself is nothing new - it's been used in a variety of painkillers including Percodan and Percocet since the early 1960s. However, OxyContin® contains a much higher concentration of the drug that, like heroin, is derived from opium. In addition to oral abuse of the tablet, crushing it enables abusers to circumvent the controlled release mechanism and to swallow, snort, or inject the drug for a more rapid and intense high. My addiction to this narcotic began with a prescription of Vicoden. After abusing it for the weeks following a surgery that I had was told by friends that one OxyContin® was equal, in potency to a few Vicoden pills. In addition to orally abusing the tablet, crushing it up enabled me to destroy the controlled release mechanism and to swallow or snort the drug. OxyContin® can also be injected to produce a feeling identical to shooting heroin. OxyContin® comes in 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 milligram tablets. Addicts usually start out on the lowest dosage but before they know it they can no longer gain an effect from even the highest dosage. The physical withdrawal from the drug is nothing short of agonizing pain, with symptoms including restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, goose bumps and involuntary leg movements. Since 1996, the number of OxyContin® prescriptions has risen to approximately 5.8 million prescriptions in 2000, with use beginning as early as 14 years old. To date, at least fourteen States have experienced increased abuse and diversion of OxyContin®. As of November 1, 2001, DEA has received Medical Examiner’s (autopsy) findings, with accompanying toxicology and investigator reports, from 803 cases of OxyCodone positive deaths from 31 states. A review of this response indicated that 117 of these deaths were verified as having involved OxyContin®, with an additional 179 deaths deemed to be likely related to OxyContin®. The growing popularity of OxyContin® as a preferred drug of abuse has given rise to an increase of associated criminal activity. Pharmacies from Massachusetts to Alaska have been targeted for robberies by individuals bypassing cash and other narcotics, and instead demanding OxyContin® by name. Its makers say it can bring tremendous relief to suffering patients. But according to news reports from around the country, the prescription pain medication OxyContin is being abused by an increasing number of young adults in search of a heroin-like high. E.C. - Narconon Graduate |
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