Oxycontin

            
             Oxycontin first came to the attention of law enforcement in the sparsely inhabited area of Appalachia. The drug quickly moved north and is currently establishing itself throughout the eastern part of the U.S.
             Oxycondone is synthesized from thebaine. It is similar to codeine, but is more potent and has a higher dependence potential. It is effective orally and is marketed in combination with aspirin (Percodan) or acetaminophen (Percocet) for the relief of pain. Designed as time-release tablets, addicts and other users take the tablets and crush them into powder and take the drug orally or dissolve it in water, filter out the insoluble material, and "mainline" or shoot the active drug, which no longer has a time-release feature.
             July 2001- after a rash of armed robberies at pharmacies by drug dealers and users looking for oxycontin, officials at some New England supermarket chains said they will stop stocking the drug in its pharmacies in an effort to protect its customers and employees from potential harm. Effects of Oxycontin are similar to heroin or morphine. (Euphoria, sleepiness) One Pharmacist described Oxycontin as a drug that is as close to heroin as you can get.
             Oxycontin is a respiratory depressant. When used with other depressants, such as alcohol or other depressant drugs, there is an accumulative effect which may cause breathing to stop. Oxycontin can also cause the cardiovascular system to shut down.
             Oxycontin delivers the narcotic oxycodone to patients battling pain from cancer or other debilitating conditions. Oxycodone itself is nothing new- it's been used in a variety of painkillers including Percodan and Percocet since the early 1960s. However, Oxycontin contains much higher concentration of the drug that, like heroin, is derived from.
             Oxycontin stands for continuous (time released) oxycodone. It contains pure oxycodone without aspirin or Tylenol in it. In preparations that do include aspirin or Tylenol, usually the high contents of these additives will be toxic to the addicted patient before the narcotic itself is.