OxyContin is manufactured by Purdue Pharma LP, and has been marketed as a prescription painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain associated with cancer, injuries, fractures, arthritis and back pain. It is intended for use in situations where other medications are not sufficient to relieve the pain. The main active ingredient in OxyContin is OxyCodone Hydrochloride, and the drug is available in controlled release tablets of 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg dosages. Because of its controlled formulation, the medication must be taken every 12 hours for sufficient pain relief. OxyContin has been found to result in tolerance if used over a period of time, leading to the risk of abuse and addiction.

Short Term Effects of OxyContin

When used over a short period of time, OxyContin, like other opioids, can cause respiratory difficulties, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and weakness.

Abuse and Addiction Potential of OxyContin

If used chronically over a long period of time, a person can develop tolerance to OxyContin. This means that the prescribed doses are not sufficient for pain relief, and the person needs increased doses to achieve the same effects of the medication.  

Since OxyContin was introduced in 1996, reports of its abuse began to surface by drug addiction treatment clinics, doctors and law enforcement agencies. Abusers removed the coating on the tablets that facilitate control release, in order to achieve a quicker release of the drug. This quick release causes feelings of euphoria and an adrenaline rush similar to the feelings experienced by heroin users. For these reasons the drug is also known by the names "hillbilly heroin" as well as other street names; Oxy, OxyCotton and Kicker.

Chronic use of OxyContin can also result in addiction and causes the same kind of withdrawal symptoms found in other drugs. When tablets are crushed or chewed, the resulting overdose of OxyCodone can be fatal. Snorting or use of OxyContin injections can induce breathing difficulties resulting in unconsciousness or even death. Intravenous injections of the drug can also cause scarring or necrosis of skin tissue, cardiac and lung problems.

Purdue Pharma Liability in OxyContin Litigation

Investigation by the Food and Drug Administration revealed widespread and extensive use of unethical practices by Purdue Pharma in the promotion of OxyContin. It found that sales representatives were encouraged to push the drug to the general public. Representatives constantly targeted general practitioners, convincing them that addiction numbers were less than 1% of patients, and that the sustained release formulation made OxyContin less likely to be abused.  The company feigned shock that OxyContin was being used in a crushed form, even after they continued to receive reports of deaths and addiction from the families of victims, many of whom were never the prescription market for OxyContin in the first place. Purdue Pharma continued to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in OxyContin promotions in 2001.