HOPE — Oxycotin Kills. GET THE FACTS

What they are saying about Oxycontin

DEA says it is only a matter of time before every community in this country is confronted with the problem of OxyContin abuse. No prescription drug in the last 20 years has been so widely abused after its release, federal officials say.

What is Oxycontin?

Oxycontin is an analgesic that is the leading opioid to relieve medium to severe pain. It's a Schedule II drug meaning it must be prescribed by a physician to legally obtain it. While Oxycontin has been a god-send for those in chronic pain, it has also been the cause of untimely death for many people who are unaware of its powerful addiction and side effects.

How is Oxycontin Taken?

Oxycontin is normally prescribed to patients who have severe pain. The normal regimen for Oxycontin is twice daily. The drug has a time release capsule that gives the body small amounts of the drug in twelve hour integrals. Drug users circumvent the time release by crushing the pill and destroying the time release mechanisms designed to slowly supply the body with the analgesic effects. The crushed powder is then insufflated (snorted), swallowed (parachuting), or loaded into a needle and injected by IV drug users.

What are the various strengths of OxyContin?

OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release) tablets are an opioid analgesic supplied in 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg tablet strengths for oral administration. The tablet strengths describe the amount of oxycodone per tablet as the hydrochloride salt.

Of the various strengths of OxyContin, the most commonly abused and diverted strength is the 40 mg tablets, although all strengths (10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg.) have been encountered.

What are the slang terms used for OxyContin?

Below is a list of common slang terms used for OxyContin:

40 = OxyContin pill
80 = OxyContin pill
Doctor shopping = The practice of going from doctor to doctor to obtain prescriptions for pharmaceuticals
Hillbilly heroin = OxyContin
Kicker = OxyContin
Oxy = OxyContin
Oxycotton = OxyContin
Pharming = Consuming a mixture of prescription substances
Pill ladies = Female senior citizens who sell OxyContin

What are the effects of OxyContin?

OxyContin will give you a high much like high grade heroin but with worse consequences. A 5mg tablet of OxyContin has has as many active ingredients as 1 Percocet. So, chewing or snorting a 40mg tablet of OxyContin is similar to taking 8 Percocets at once. An 80mg tablet of OxyContin is like taking 16 Percocets all at once.

Users of OxyContin might experience:

euphoria
relaxation
calm
stoned / high

What are some signs of Oxycontin abuse and/or addiction?

Signs of OxyContin addiction included but are not limited to:

Slow breathing (less than ten breaths a minute is really serious trouble)
Small, pinpoint pupils
Confusion
Being tired, nodding off, or passing out
Dizziness
Weakness
Apathy (they don’t care about anything)
Cold and clammy skin
Nausea
Vomiting
Seizures

A lot of these signs of OxyContin addiction can make people think their friend is drunk. And they may be tempted to let them sleep it off, or tell their parents they had too much to drink. But don’t. The friend could go to sleep and never wake up

What are the withdrawal signs of Oxycontin?

Have you noticed that your teen is getting sick more often? Parents beware that withdrawal of Oxycontin does mask flu like symptoms. Withdrawal from oxycontin can occur in just a few days of not using.