OxyContin is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocation, fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, lower back pain, and pain associated with cancer.1 OxyContin contains oxycodone, the medication's active ingredient, in a timed-release tablet. Oxycodone products have been illicitly abused for the past 30 years.2
OxyContin produces opiate-like effects and is sometimes used as a substitute for heroin. Illicit uses of OxyContin include crushing the tablet and ingesting or snorting it. Most individuals who abuse this drug do so to gain euphoric effects, relieve pain, and to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Those who take the drug repeatedly can develop a tolerance or resistance to the drug's effects.3
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Extent of Use
According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 2.8 million persons aged 12 or older had used OxyContin nonmedically at least once in their lifetime. This is a statistically significant increase from the 1.9 million lifetime users in 2002.4
A questionnaire about OxyContin was included in the 2002 Monitoring the Future Study for the first time. During 2002, 1.3% of 8th graders, 3.0% of 10th graders, and 4.0% of 12th graders reported using OxyContin within the past year. During 2003, 1.7% of 8th graders, 3.6% of 10th graders, and 4.5% of 12th graders reporting using OxyContin within the past year.5
During 2003, 2.2% of college students and 2.6% of young adults (ages 19-28) reported using OxyContin at least once during the past year. This is up from 1.5% and 1.9%, respectively, during 2002.6
According to the November 2002 Pulse Check: Trends in Drug Abuse, OxyContin diversion and abuse were reported as emerging in 13 of the 20 Pulse Check sites, including Baltimore, MD; Billings, MT; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Columbia, SC; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Memphis, TN; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA.7
Only 4 Pulse Check sites reported OxyContin to be widely available and more than half reported it to be somewhat available. OxyContin abusers in Pulse Check sites tend to be over 30 years old, although young adults (18-30 years) are emerging, and white.8
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Health Effects
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Drug Episode: A drug-related
ED episode is an ED visit that
was induced by or related to the
use of drug(s).
Drug Mention: A drug mention
refers to a substance that was
recorded during an ED episode. Because up to 4 drugs can be reported for each drug abuse episode, there are more mentions than episodes.
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Most individuals who are prescribed OxyContin will not become addicted, although they may become dependent on the drug and will experience withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped.9
According to the Drug Use Warning Network (DAWN) emergency department (ED) data, there was a 107% increase in the number of oxycodone combination mentions from 2000 to 2002. During 2002, there were 22,397 mentions of oxycodone combinations, compared to the 10,825 mentions during 2000. During 2002, there were 14,996 single-entity Oxycodone mentions (where only Oxycodone is mentioned).10
ED Oxycodone Mentions, 1996–2002
According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) 2002 mortality data, oxycodone ranked among the 10 most common drugs in 17 cities, including Philadelphia (93 mentions), Boston (49 mentions), Las Vegas (42), Baltimore (33 mentions), and Seattle (29 mentions).11
As of November 1, 2001, medical examiner offices in 31 States reported 1,096 overdose deaths involving oxycodone, 117 of which were related to OxyContin.12
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Treatment
According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), oxycodone was reported as the primary substance of abuse in 1,364 treatment admissions during 2002. It was also reported in 585 admissions as the secondary drug of abuse and in 341 admissions as the tertiary drug of abuse.13
According to Pulse Check: Trends in Drug Abuse, OxyContin is the primary drug of abuse among substantial percentages of clients in several treatment programs in Pulse Check sites, especially in the Columbia (SC) and Portland (ME) methadone programs. OxyContin accounts for even higher percentages of clients who report any use (either primary, secondary, or tertiary) in several cities, such as Miami (40 percent), St. Louis (15 percent), Boston (8 percent), Los Angeles (4 percent), and-most dramatically-in Memphis, where all 300 clients in the program report some use of the drug.14
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Arrests & Sentencing
The number of DEA investigations and arrests involving OxyContin has declined since 2001.15
DEA OxyContin Investigations/Arrests, 2000–2003
The number of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) OxyContin-related investigations have fluctuated from 10 in FY 2001, to 22 in FY 2002, to 13 in FY 2003. The number of OCDETF indictments for OxyContin-related offenses has increased from 7 in FY 2001, to 31 in FY 2002, to 40 in FY 2003.16
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Production & Trafficking
Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, an opiate agonist, in 1995.17 Pharmaceuticals such as OxyContin can be diverted in many ways. The most popular form is known as "doctor shopping," where individuals, who may or may not have legitimate illnesses requiring a doctor's prescription for controlled substances, visit many doctors to acquire large amounts of controlled substances. Other diversion methods include pharmacy diversion and improper prescribing practices by physicians.18
Crimes related to OxyContin sales are usually non-violent, although violent crimes were reported in Boston, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Portland relating to OxyContin sales. Most of the crimes include robbery, burglary, larceny, and other property crimes.19
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), licit retail prices for Oxycodone from 1996-2000 ranged from $1.30 for 10 milligrams to $14 for 160 milligrams. Illicit prices for Oxycodone ranged from $5-$12 for 10 milligrams to $60-$100 per 160 milligrams.20
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 1,251 incidents of OxyContin theft during 2003. These incidents resulted in the theft of 464,312 OxyContin dosage units (DU).21
OxyContin Theft Incidents, 2000–2003
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there have been 1,369,667 dosage units of OxyContin lost as of 2000.22
OxyContin Loss by Dosage Units, January 2000 through June 2003
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Legislation
Oxycodone is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule II substances have a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States with severe restrictions, and may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.23
Many States have launched efforts to curb the illegal use of OxyContin. Louisiana, Maine, Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee have enacted legislation to deal with this issue. California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and Washington have established prescription monitoring programs. Many more States are working to establish legislation and prescription monitoring programs to deal with diverted pharmaceuticals.24
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Street Terms25
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Other Links
Nonmedical Use of Prescription Pain Relievers
This fact sheet provides information on nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers as reported in the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Prescription Drugs Abuse and Addiction
Provides information about commonly abused prescription drugs, their effects, detection, and treatment.
OxyContin: Balancing Risks and Benefits
Hearing before the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee United States Senate
OxyContin Information: FDA Strengthens Warnings for OxyContin
OxyContin FAQs
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Regarding OxyContin from the Drug Enforcement Administration
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Sources
1 National Drug Intelligence Center, Information Bulletin: OxyContin Diversion and Abuse, January 2001
2 Drug Enforcement Administration, Congressional Testimony, Statement by Terrance W. Woodworth, Deputy Director, Officer of Diversion Control, Before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, August 28, 2001.
3
National Drug Intelligence Center, Information Bulletin: OxyContin Diversion and Abuse, January 2001
4 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, September 2004
5 National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future 2003 Data from In-School Surveys of 8th-, 10th-, and 12th- Grade Students, December 2003
6 National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2003, Volume II: College Students & Adults Ages 19–45 (PDF), 2004
7 Office of National Drug Control Policy, Pulse Check: Trends in Drug Abuse, November 2002
8 Ibid.
9 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, CSAT Advisory, OxyContin: Prescription Drug Abuse, April 2002
10 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Emergency Department Trends from the Drug Abuse Warning Network, Final Estimates 1995–2002, July 2003
11 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Mortality Data From the Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2002, January 2004
12 Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Intelligence Brief: OxyContin: Pharmaceutical Diversion, March 2002
13 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 1992–2002 (PDF), September 2004
14
Office of National Drug Control Policy, Pulse Check: Trends in Drug Abuse, November 2002
15
National Drug Intelligence Center, Intelligence Bulletin: OxyContin Diversion, Availability, and Abuse, August 2004
16
Ibid.
17
Department of Health and Human Services Testimony, Statement by John K. Jenkins, M.D. for the Hearing on OxyContin: Balancing Risks and Benefits Before The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions February 12, 2002: http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t20020212.html
18 National Drug Intelligence Center, Information Bulletin: OxyContin Diversion and Abuse, January 2001
19 Office of National Drug Control Policy, Pulse Check: Trends in Drug Abuse, November 2002
20 Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Intelligence Brief: OxyContin: Pharmaceutical Diversion, March 2002
21 National Drug Intelligence Center, Intelligence Bulletin: OxyContin Diversion, Availability, and Abuse, August 2004
22 Ibid.
23
Drug Enforcement Administration, Drugs of Abuse, February 2003
24 National Conference of State Legislatures, The Double Life of OxyContin: Miracle Painkiller and Illicit Street Drug What are States Doing?, February 2002
25 Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse, Street Terms: Drugs and the Drug Trade, OxyContin Drug Terms
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