How Does OxyContin Abuse Differ From Abuse of Other Pain Prescriptions?
Abuse of prescription pain medications is not new. Two primary factors, however, set OxyContin abuse apart from other prescription drug abuse. First, OxyContin is a powerful drug that contains a much larger amount of the active ingredient, oxycodone, than other prescription pain relievers. By crushing the tablet and either ingesting or snorting it, or by injecting diluted OxyContin, people who abuse the opioid feel its powerful effects in a short time, rather than over a 12-hour span. Second, great profits can be made in the illegal sale of OxyContin. A 40-mg pill costs approximately $4 by prescription, yet it may sell for $20 to $40 on the street, depending on the area of the country in which the drug is sold.
