| OxyContin is an opium derivative, which contains | | | | drugs. No wonder, OxyContin is widely referred to |
| the same active ingredient as in Percodan and | | | | as the poor man's heroin. |
| Percocet. OxyContin is a very strong narcotic pain | | | | Most individuals who abuse OxyContin seek the |
| reliever similar to morphine. OxyContin is designed | | | | euphoric effects to mitigate pain and to avoid |
| so that its oxycodone salt is slowly released over | | | | withdrawal symptoms associated with opium |
| time. OxyContin products are in schedule II of the | | | | abstinence. |
| federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 in | | | | Effects of OxyContin Abuse: |
| United States. | | | | Chief hazard from all opioid usage is the |
| OxyContin Prescription: | | | | respiratory depression and OxyContin is no |
| OxyContin is an opiate agonist that provides pain | | | | exception. Respiratory depression occurs mostly |
| relief by acting on opioid receptors in the spinal | | | | in elderly or debilitated patients, often following |
| cord, brain, and possibly in the tissues directly. | | | | large initial doses in non-tolerant patients, or when |
| Opioids, natural or synthetic classes of drugs that | | | | opioids are given in conjunction with other agents |
| act like morphine have been recognized as the | | | | that depress respiration. Other than respiratory |
| most effective pain relievers available and thus | | | | depression, some serious adverse reactions that |
| OxyContin is prescribed for moderate to high pain | | | | may be associated with OxyContin use include |
| relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocation, | | | | apnea, respiratory arrest, circulatory depression, |
| fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, and lower back pain. | | | | and hypertension. It may also cause a reduction in |
| It is also used after surgeries and for pain relief | | | | motility associated with an increase in smooth |
| after childbirth. It is a commonly used medication | | | | muscle tone in the antrum of the stomach and |
| for pain relief in cancer patients. | | | | duodenum. Delayed digestion of food in the small |
| OxyContin Abuse in U.S.: | | | | intestine and a subsequent decrease in propulsive |
| The power painkiller OxyContin is being abused by | | | | contractions has also been reported. |
| more and more people across United States. The | | | | Some common side effects of OxyContin are |
| heroin-like effects of the drug attract both | | | | constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, |
| legitimate and illegitimate users. Although the | | | | headache, dry mouth, sweating, and weakness. |
| diversion and abuse of OxyContin appeared initially | | | | OxyContin Testing: |
| in the eastern U.S., it has now spread to the | | | | OxyContin can be detected in urine testing within |
| western U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii. As a | | | | one or two days following drug exposure although |
| result, OxyContin-related adverse health effects | | | | hair follicle based drug analysis may even be |
| increased markedly in recent years. | | | | performed at longer intervals. |
| OxyContin abused is increasing rapidly due to | | | | Laboratory testing may involve Antibody based |
| many factors: | | | | screening assays or Chromatographic procedures. |
| •It contains high levels of opium which makes | | | | A Mass spectrometric screening can also be done |
| it highly addictive. | | | | for further validation purposes. However, |
| •OxyContin is not laced with other conjugates | | | | preliminary evaluation of patients or periodic |
| so an addict can decide exactly how much of the | | | | monitoring can be done by one of those |
| drug is required to get that high. | | | | easy-to-use kits which usually work on the |
| •OxyContin is significantly cheaper than street | | | | principles of specific antigen-antibody interactions. |