# Oxy-contin addiction stories??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 26, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683 "2003-02-26T17:48:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/21 "2003-02-28T01:09:42Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by EJsGirl \*  
> \*\*Vicodin used to the the Wicked Witch of the prescription drug addiction scene, but has been bumped by OxyContin. I don’t have a copy of the PDR near me so I don’t know if they are both in the same class of drug.
> 
> Paging **Qadgop the Mercotan**!
> 
> 😃 \*\*

Absent Qadgop, WebMD works well, and tells us, [here](http://my.webmd.com/content/drugs/4/4048_110.htm?lastselectedguid=%7B5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348%7D) that it is oxycodone hcl controlled release. Vicodin is hydrocodone and acetominophen. Now even in WebMD I can’t find a spectrum of addictiveness, so I don’t know for sure that hydrocodone is milder/less addictive than oxycodone, but I do know that part of the danger with Oxycontin is that, unlike other narcotics that usually need to be taken every four hours, the time release feature of Oxy allows you to go much longer between doses, but apparently also encourages abuse.

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**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/22 "2003-02-28T01:37:15Z")

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IANAMD, but I am a psychologist who just heard a lecture on the biological underpinnings of addiction. Timed release meds are actually less likely to promote addiction, because things that hit the brain faster are more addictive. It is the sudden high that gets you, apparently. Smoking a substance, for example, gets it in the brain quickly which is one reason crack is so addictive.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/23 "2003-02-28T02:50:33Z")

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Oxycontin is slow-release oxycodone. Oxycodone is a Schedule II narcotic, like morphine and demerol. It is commonly used in Percodan. Oxycodone itself is generally as abusable as any other schedule II opiate narcotic. They have greater abuse potentials than Schedule III’s and IV’s, etc.

The popularity of oxycontin seems to derive from the large amount of oxycodone in the tablet. The larger amount is necessary for its slow-release capabilities. Abusers of the drug tend to crush the tablet and thus get the entire large dose in a very short time, making an oxycontin 40mg tablet deliver the same jolt as 8 tablets of more traditional short-acting oxycodone.

Hydrocodone is a Schedule III opiate narcotic, felt to be less abusable than the schedule IIs. Most opiate addicts agree with this. Oxycodone activates the brain’s opiate receptors far more strongly than hydrocodone.

Oxycontin is a very good drug for the correct patient. It’s a drug with many powerful side-effects for the incorrect patient. But it’s also a magnet which attracts that small subset of patients with chemical dependency. Its use for chronic non-malignant pain remains controversial.

Hope that helps.

Lets all sing:  
“I’ve got a tendency  
for drug dependency”

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**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/24 "2003-02-28T04:49:06Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Brynda \*  
> **Timed release meds are actually less likely to promote addiction**

Unless you crush them and snort them, which is what a lot of OxyContin abusers do.

**QtM** , that is exactly what I had in mind! Thanks for the info!

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**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/25 "2003-02-28T05:28:40Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by porcupine \*  
> \*\*[slight hijack] I have a question for folks - when you are talking about Oxy do you mean Oxycodone (Vicodin) or just Oxycontin. I’m just curious. I take Oxycodone for my migraines. My brain chemistry is such that it does almost nothing for me and never has - I doubt I could get addicted because it has so little affect on me. I’ve had some days where I’ve taken several, then the next day I take none with no withdrawal. I got a script for Percocet once, and that was no more effective than the Vicodin. Even Demerol or Dilaudid aren’t that effective. \*\*

I had that same problem with a muscle relaxant (Soma) my doctor prescribed me for back pain. It was supposed to even have a side effect of drowsiness, and I only felt that once. I took the medicine on an empty stomach along with the Anaprox they also said to take. BAM! Within an hour, I was so sleepy and dizzy I literally could not walk a straight line (I was home, btw). Vicodin hits me like a ton of bricks, however. I can take half a dose and have the room spinning. Fortunately, she prefers not prescribing opiate pain medicines whenever the pain isn’t that bad. My dentist obviously isn’t as cautious. I guess I should be glad he didn’t prescribe Oxycontin.

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**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/26 "2003-02-28T16:41:06Z")

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No kidding, I can’t wait for the “smart pill”, they’'ve been talking about. It loses his effects if the pills are crushed… Please bring it on!  
Google “smart pill crush” to get a couple of info if you’d like. Sounds good to me.

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**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/27 "2003-02-28T17:08:43Z")

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Oxy’s are best if you snort them. Not a good idea to start, but a fucking fabulous buzz for a treat.

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**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/28 "2003-02-28T19:17:31Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Carine \*  
> \*\*No kidding, I can’t wait for the “smart pill”, they’'ve been talking about. It loses his effects if the pills are crushed… Please bring it on!  
> Google “smart pill crush” to get a couple of info if you’d like. Sounds good to me. \*\*

I think Perdue is just bullshitting on this. Any chemistry experts on the board have an opinion?

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**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/29 "2003-02-28T19:28:54Z")

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Why would say announce this KeithBerry if it isn’t true? So they pretend to take care of the problem??

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/30 "2003-02-28T21:34:31Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \*  
> \*\*Oxy’s are best if you snort them. Not a good idea to start, but a fucking fabulous buzz for a treat. \*\*

> [@](#):
>
> _originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan_  
> **it’s also a magnet which attracts that small subset of patients with chemical dependency**

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**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxy-contin-addiction-stories/157683/31 "2003-02-28T23:54:06Z")

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**Moderator’s note:**

IMHO this thread has veered far enough off-track into actively promoting illegal activities. We want no part of it.

For those who want really “good” info on how to get an illegal buzz, there’s a whole big internet out there. Go huntin’. But leave us out of it.

Lockdown.

TVeblen,  
for the SDMB

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