Oxycodone: history, uses, abuses, and addiction challenges

Oxycodone: A brief history of a potentially addictive drug

Most of us think of opium and opiates in fairly dramatic terms. We think of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, lulled into a stupor after falling asleep in a field of poppies or, worse, the image of a junkie hopelessly captivated by heroin. However, the face of drug addiction is changing. Many people are addicted to supposedly healthy, doctor-prescribed painkillers by their physicians. Drugs like oxycodone have the same chemical composition as opiates like heroin, even though they were scientifically created in laboratories. This paper will provide a brief history of the drug oxycodone and its use and abuses. Although oxycodone has many legitimate applications in pain management, it is not a harmless drug and has the potential to become extremely addictive. This addictive property was not initially noted but after cases of abuse began to surface, concerns began to arise. "Until 1995, when the Food and Drug Administration approved OxyContin there was little concern over the abuse of oxycodone producers. But, in 1996 when the manufacturer of OxyContin began to market and distribute the drug, concerns and reports of illicit use and abuse began to increase" ("Oxycodone," 2014).

History of drug

"Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opiate manufactured by modifying the chemical thebaine, an organic chemical found in opium. It is the active ingredient in a number of commonly prescribed pain relief medications such as Percocet, Percodan, and Tylox" ("Oxycodone," 2014). All of these common drugs contain low-dose forms of oxycodone. By far the most potent variety of Oxycodone is that of OxyContin, with tablets that range in strength from 10mg to 80mg tablets. "Intended use of OxyContin is for long-term relief (up to 12 hours) of moderate to severe pain associated with conditions such as cancer and arthritis" ("Oxycodone," 2014). The tablets are time-released to ensure slower and steadier pain management. However, despite the apparently benign time release format, OxyContin has still proven to be extremely addictive and the subject of much criticism. It is often abused by adolescents and abuse of the drug is on the rise. The drug has a high street value of $25-$40 for a $4 pill. "OxyContin, which may be the most recognized form of oxycodone, is a drug with a high abuse potential, and in the past few years it has been linked to a number of overdose deaths. In 1996 for example, data from the federal government linked oxycodone to 49 deaths" ("Oxycodone," 2014).

Effects of the drug on the body

When used properly, the drug is intended to blunt the sufferer's reaction to pain, depressing the central nervous system and the reactions it sends regarding pain messages. It is often prescribed for individuals experiencing chronic pain in diseases like cancer and arthritis. Abusers may use it as a substitute for heroin while others experience a 'high' because of its depressive effects. "Currently, oxycodone products, and all of the medications containing it, are Schedule II controlled substances" ("Oxycodone," 2014). The drug also causes elevated levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to stimulating a sensation of pleasure in the user (once again, this is another similarity with heroin). Tolerance develops as the body responds to repeated use of the drug by producing less dopamine. The less dopamine produced by the body, the greater the addict's need for the drug.

Because of its physically addictive nature and the 'crash' experienced with a withdrawal from regular use, most people find it impossible to quit oxycodone without some type of formal support. "Withdrawal symptoms may be severe and can include anxiety, nausea, insomnia, muscle pain, fevers, and other flu like symptoms" ("Oxycodone," CESAR). The use of a rehabilitation facility is frequently recommended for chronic addicts.

How the drug has impacted the world at present

"The number of annual overdose deaths from narcotic painkillers has grown four times higher than it was a decade ago. The current statistic is that about 16,000 people a year die of overdoses involving prescription narcotics" (Pope 1). Despite increasing awareness of the addictive potential of Oxycodone, and well-publicized cases of celebrities addicted to the drug like Rush Limbaugh, addiction rates and fatalities are on the rise. Studies have indicated that when individuals are prescribed Oxycodone for problems such as back pain as a result of a workplace issue, "it's the leading predictor for them not coming back to work for long periods of time, or ever" (Pope 1). Thus, not only are there profound negative effects for the individual because of oxycodone abuse, but also for society as a whole in terms of lost productivity. The drug also causes permanent changes in the brain, reducing dopamine production and making it difficult for the abuser to experience pleasure in a normal fashion.