Why is OxyContin the new drug of choice? What are the effects?

In the documentary we watched on Wednesday, "oxycotton" was mentioned on many occasions. Though I have heard of the drug, I am not sure what the draw is to it. The official name, OxyContin, is "slow-release narcotic prescribed for pain." It can be prescribed for a multitude of reasons including: cancer, arthritis, sicle cell, and nerve damage. One of the advantages of OxyContin is that only one pill is needed to reduce the pain, rather than 6 pills a day. It has the same levels of morphine that Percodan does, another well-known street drug. According to WebMD, it is usually crushed and snorted and results in a fast high that is said to be better than the high resulting from heroin.

Many people start using the drug for legitimate reasons that have to do with severe pain. However, a dependence is made and it is included in a person's everyday life soon after it is prescribed. Because of the intense high that it provides, it is sold for thousands of dollars on the streets. Since it has become so popular, it is linked to over 100 overdoses leading to death in the US alone. The popularity for the drug is so high because doctors and pharmacists over the past years have prescribed it more generously. However, since the problem has been noticed, people with power are much more hesitant to give out this drug. This has led to intense behaviors in many doctor's offices and ER's.

J. M. Wooten

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=116686

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20010209/oxycotton-new-street-drug-of-choice-for-many