The prescription drug, Oxycontin, released by Purdue Pharmaceuticals in 1995, has quickly become the most abused prescription drug according to the Food and Drug Administration. With what started out as a party drug on the East Coast of the United States, Oxycontin abuse has rapidly spread across the country affecting patients, celebrities, and even Beaumont locals.

Oxycontin abuse has become a problem in the Beaumont area within the last five years said Sergeant John Caloway with the Beaumont Police Department, Narcotics Division, who has dealt with several Oxycontin cases. Oxycontin abuse ranges among the 23 to 50 years old age group, and includes people with and without prescriptions said Caloway. A prescription of Oxycontin can cost between $200-$300, and on the street pills can cost up to $1 per milligram.

Also, the drug has become more popular in the last couple of years because of the media attention due to celebrity addictions, such as the recent admittance of Rush Limbaugh’s prescription drug problem and the recovery of reality TV figure, Jack Osbourne, who both suffered with Oxycontin addiction.

“Oxycontin is a very addictive drug because it contains concentrated oxycondone, and is an opium derivative made from the opium poppy seed, which is also found in heroin,” said John Lovoi, pharmacist of Lovoi and Sons Pharmacy.

The drug Oxycontin is the time-release version of the drug Oxycodone. According to the Oxycontin package insert, Oxycontin is a schedule II controlled substance with an abuse liability similar to Morphine. The drug oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. When pain is continuous, Oxycontin is given to patients to administer around-the-clock relief. Oxycontin has proved to be beneficial in the treatment of pain, but has widely become addictive to both people with or without prescriptions because of the ingredients found in the drug.

For people with or without prescriptions, the same euphoric effects take place. However, for those who take the drug as a party drug, the effects differ.

When a patient takes the drug Oxycontin, the dosage is administered over an extended period of time due to the time-release capsule. Addicts, however, break the







time-release capsule by chewing it, snorting the powder, or shooting it like heroin said Vickie Jacquet, counselor intern with Spindletop Mental Health Mental Retardation, substance abuse unit. When the time-release capsule is broken and the drug is consumed, the effects of the drug are immediate Lovoi said.

“It gives you that type of high where you think you can do anything, and a lot of people have gotten themselves killed thinking they can do anything,” said Lovoi.

Lovoi added, that addicts also tend to mix Oxycontin with other controlled substances. The most dangerous substances to mix Oxycontin with are alcohol, nerve pills, and other pain medications, which usually lead to death.

Signs of an Oxycontin overdose include seizures, convulsions, hallucinations, and death. Usually, there are very few warning signs of an Oxycontin overdose, which results in death most of the time Jacquet said.

“Oxycontin withdrawal, that’s something no one wants to go through. It’s a very painful process. You’re very sick,” Jacquet said.

Oxycontin addiction recovery is a long, painful process just like any other drug. However, it takes the brain 90 days to recover from Oxycontin abuse said Jacquet. In order for a person to recover best, Jacquet suggests detox before entering a residential setting. Also, family or group counseling should be considered.

Due to the addiction of the drug and severe side effects, including death in patients, several lawsuits have been brought upon Purdue Pharmaceuticals. Also, because of the abuse of the drug by breaking the time-release capsule, Purdue Pharmaceuticals has been working on ways to prevent the abuse of the drug said Lovoi.

“For people using Oxycontin, stop using it and seek help immediately,”said Jacquet. “If they are using Oxycontin that is not perscribed they need to stop and seek some kind of treatment before long term damage is done.”