The abuse of oxycodone products in general has increased
in recent years. In April 2000, The Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) published a study, which examined two data
collection sources. The DEA Automation of Reports and Consolidated
Orders System (ARCOS) data tracks the distribution of oxycodone
and other opioid analgesics and the Drug Abuse Warning Network
(DAWN) Medical Examiner (ME) and Emergency Department (ED) data
ascertained the health consequences associated with its abuse
from 1990 to 1996. The JAMA study found a 23 percent increase
in the medical use of oxycodone with no corresponding increase
in the illicit abuse of the drug. However, 1998 DAWN ME data reported
a 93 percent increase in oxycodone mentions between 1997 and 1998
and the number of oxycodone-related DAWN ED mentions increased
32.4 percent from 1997 (4,857) to 1999 (6,429).
OxyContin is designed to be swallowed whole; however, abusers
ingest the drug in a variety of ways. OxyContin abusers often
chew the tablets or crush the tablets and snort the powder. Because
oxycodone is water soluble, crushed tablets can be dissolved in
water and the solution injected. The latter two methods lead to
the rapid release and absorption of oxycodone. The alcohol and
drug treatment staff at the Mountain Comprehensive Care Center,
Prestonsburg, Kentucky, reports individuals who have never injected
drugs are using OxyContin intravenously and they have never seen
a drug "proliferate like OxyContin has since May 2000."
The staff at this center has over 90 cumulative years' experience
conducting drug evaluations.
OxyContin and heroin have similar effects; therefore, both drugs
are attractive to the same abuser population. OxyContin is sometimes
referred to as "poor man's heroin," despite the high
price it commands at the street level. A 40 mg tablet of OxyContin
by prescription costs approximately $4 or $400 for a 100-tablet
bottle in a retail pharmacy. Street prices vary depending on geographic
location, but generally OxyContin sells for between 50 cents and
$1 per milligram. Thus, the same 100-tablet bottle purchased for
$400 at a retail pharmacy can sell for $2,000 to $4,000 illegally.
OxyContin is, however, relatively inexpensive for those covered
by health insurance, since the insurance provider covers most
costs associated with doctor visits and the prescription. Unfortunately,
many OxyContin abusers whose health insurance will no longer pay
for prescriptions and who cannot afford the high street-level
prices are attracted to heroin.
Addiction to opioids used for legitimate medical purposes under
a qualified physician's care is rare. According to the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, however, many physicians limit prescribing
powerful opioid pain medications because they believe patients
may become addicted to the drugs. Recent evidence suggests that,
unlike opioid abusers, most healthy, nondrug-abusing patients
do not report euphoria after being administered opioids, possibly
because their level of pain may reduce some of the opioid's euphoric
effects making patients less likely to become abusers.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
