OxyContin Abuse in America

Since being introduced to the U.S. market in 1939, oxycodone use and abuse have grown rapidly. The approval from the FDA in 2004 to allow marketing of generic forms on OxyContin has aided in the increase of the use and abuse of OxyContin. In fact, as of 2007, the United States has the highest total consumption of oxycodone products (82 percent of the world total). Moreover, the U.S. has the highest per capita consumption of oxycodone, followed by Canada, Denmark, Australia, and Norway....

OxyContin Overview

About OxyContin OxyContin is a legal narcotic painkiller often prescribed for relief of severe pain associated with injuries, back pain, arthritis, and pain associated with cancer. It is the timed-release tablet version of oxycodone, a Schedule II narcotic analgesic which is derived from opium. Oxycodone was originally developed in 1916 in Germany as a semi-synthetic opioid that would provide a less-addictive alternative to heroin. While OxyContin is less addictive than heroin, it is still a...