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OXYCONTIN FACT SHEET

As a premier provider of workplace substance abuse testing nationwide, Mobile Medical Corporation (MMC) would like to shed some light on the ever growing problem of OxyContin addiction. The information contained in this blog comes from sources within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

OxyContin is a narcotic drug that was approved by FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. OxyContin contains Oxycodone HCl, an opioid agonist with an addiction potential similar to that of morphine. The pharmacological effects of OxyContin, a brand name formulation of the Schedule II narcotic Oxycodone, make it attractive to abusers as it offers reliable strength and dosage levels and may, in some instances, be covered by the abuser's health insurance. Abusers have discovered that the controlled release formula of OxyContin can be easily compromised allowing inhalation or injection for a powerful, morphine-like high.

It has been described by some local law enforcement officials as a national epidemic in the making. National indicators such as DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network) and STRIDE (System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence) show recent increases in Oxycodone overdoses and law enforcement encounters. Some jurisdictions report as much as a 75% increase in property and other crimes that they specifically attribute to the abuse of OxyContin. Tazewell County, VA estimates that OxyContin addiction is behind 80 to 95% of all crimes committed there.
Table: Dramatic increase in the number of OxyContin prescriptions from 1998 to 2000.
Source: U.S. DEA - IMS Health: National Prescription Audit Plus

OxyContin has become a target for diverters and abusers of controlled substances because of the larger amounts of the active ingredient in relation to other previous oxycodone products and the ability of abusers to easily compromise the controlled release formulation. Simply crushing the tablet can negate the timed effect of the drug, enabling abusers to swallow, inhale, or inject the drug, which is water soluble, for a powerful morphine-like high.

There have been many instances of pharmacies being robbed strictly for their supply of OxyContin. Investigations have uncovered organized rings of individuals diverting, selling and abusing OxyContin . Intelligence has also shown that foreign diversion is another source of the OxyContin being sold and used illegally in the United States.

Contact Mobile Medical Corporation's team of substance abuse testing professionals today for more information about OxyContin and other substance abuse testing protocols! 888-662-8358

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