OxyContin ® Diversion and Abuse
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.
Opioids, Pain, and Addiction
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 |
Rapid Detox Home
