Medicine

Oxycodone is used to relieve moderate to severe chronic pain and postoperative pain. The drug also treats pain due to cancer and sometimes dental procedures. Oxycodone has also been used for pain relief after childbirth.  Nausea, constipation, light headedness, rash or itchiness, dizziness, and emotional mood disorders are common side effects.

Abuse

Since 1995, oxycodone has become increasingly popular among persons who abuse drugs. Oxycodone tablets can be crushed and snorted, dissolved in water and injected or smoked. Because oxycodone is so highly regulated, obtaining it illegally is quite expensive. Black market prices have been reported to as much one dollar per milligram. Oxycodone has similar effects to heroin and morphine. Illicit users ingest the drug for a number of reasons. Some use it to control withdrawal symptoms of heroin or morphine, while others use and/or abuse the drug only in an attempt to achieve a euphoric high.  Unlike other forms of oxycodone, OxyContin® is available in higher doses. Illegal use of OxyContin® has been especially noticeable on the East Coast. The increased abuse of OxyContin®/oxycodone has lead to more pharmacy robberies and health care fraud incidents.