Changes

OxyContin® is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, lower back pain, and pain associated with cancer.  OxyContin® contains oxycodone, the medication's active ingredient, in a timed-release tablet. Oxycodone products have been illicitly abused for the past 30 years.

OxyContin® is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high [[pain]] relief associated with injuries, bursitis, [[dislocations]], fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, lower back pain, and pain associated with cancer.  OxyContin® contains [[oxycodone]], the medication's active ingredient, in a [[timed-release]] tablet. Oxycodone products have been illicitly abused for the past 30 years.

Oxycodone is a Schedule II narcotic analgesic and is widely used in clinical medicine. It is marketed either alone as controlled release (OxyContin®) and immediate release formulations (OxyIR®, OxyFast®), or in combination with other nonnarcotic analgesics such as aspirin (Percodan®) or acetaminophen (Percocet®). The introduction in 1996 of OxyContin®, commonly known on the street as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton, Hillbilly heroin, and kicker, led to a marked escalation of its abuse as reported by drug abuse treatment centers, law enforcement personnel, and health care professionals. Although the diversion and abuse of OxyContin® appeared initially in the eastern US, it has now spread to the western US including Alaska and Hawaii. Oxycodone-related adverse health effects increased markedly in recent years. In 2004, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for marketing generic forms of controlled release oxycodone products.<ref>http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/oxycontin.html</ref>

Oxycodone is a Schedule II narcotic analgesic and is widely used in clinical medicine. It is marketed either alone as controlled release (OxyContin®) and immediate release formulations (OxyIR®, OxyFast®), or in combination with other nonnarcotic analgesics such as aspirin (Percodan®) or acetaminophen (Percocet®). The introduction in 1996 of OxyContin®, commonly known on the street as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton, Hillbilly heroin, and kicker, led to a marked escalation of its abuse as reported by drug abuse treatment centers, law enforcement personnel, and health care professionals. Although the diversion and abuse of OxyContin® appeared initially in the eastern US, it has now spread to the western US including Alaska and Hawaii. Oxycodone-related adverse health effects increased markedly in recent years. In 2004, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for marketing generic forms of controlled release oxycodone products.<ref>http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/oxycontin.html</ref>

In 2003, [[conservative]] radio host [[Rush Limbaugh]] became addicted to the drug after a back surgery.  Shortly after he was connected by law enforcement to an illegal narcotics ring, he admitted this fact and sought treatment for his addiction.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/</ref>

In 2003, [[conservative]] radio host [[Rush Limbaugh]] became addicted to the drug after a back [[surgery]].  This occurred after he was named by [[law enforcement]] officials in [[Palm Beach]], [[Florida]] as a potential buyer connected with the investigation of an illegal [[narcotics]] ring.  Subsequently, Limbaugh admitted his addiction, declaring that he was "not making excuses" and that he was "no role model."  He soon sought treatment, successfully.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/</ref>

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