Oxycontin is a powerful narcotic prescribed for pain control in patients with cancer or other medical condition that is accompanied by excruciating pain, it releases the active ingredient oxycodone gradually over 12 hours after taking the drug.
This formulation was designed in 1996. Soon opiate addicts found that crushing the pill, the resulting powder could be used for either snorting or injecting, achieving effects as powerful as those achieved with the heroin. This practice has resulted in several deaths from overdose.
The manufacturer of OxyContin, Purdue, has had success with this pill, however, some drug abuse experts say that this circumstance has led to drug dealers and addicts redirecting their interest to OxyContin. Demand has increased for tablets containing 30mg of pure oxycodone, which is known by the popular names of “Perc 30” or “Roxies”.
Opana (oxymorphone) is another opioid analgesic, marketed for 5 years in the U.S., and which is blamed for an increasing number of overdose deaths. At least in part, one of the reasons that has prompted the manufacturer of OxyContin (Purdue) to change the formula was that many doctors stopped prescribing it because of risks associated with abuse and the liability factors associated with prescribing medication to dealers and pill abusers.
Street Value of OxyContin Pills
The black market price for 30mg of oxycodone (2011) between $20 and $30. The old formula of OxyContin (which was pulverized for use as a drug of abuse) cost about $80 (1 tablet of 80mg). The new pharmaceutical formulation known as OP Oxycontin costs about $40.
Purdue requested authorization from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to market the new pharmaceutical formulation in November 2007 and approval came in April 2010. It is the first case of a re-formulation of an opioid pill to try and curb the illicit use. Currently the U.S. FDA plans to propose a similar reformulation of other pharmaceutical preparations containing opiates.
The FDA has asked Purdue to conduct a study to assess the risks of abuse by the new formula (OP Oxycontin). Purdue has initiated eight epidemiological studies whose design has been approved by the FDA. Meanwhile, addicts have started to put names to the new preparation of oxycodone (Oxycontin OP), such as “jellynoses” or “gummies” referring to the jelly-like consistency when snorted or chewed.