The drug, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1995, has come under intense scrutiny in recent months. From small Kentucky towns to sprawling Prince William County, Va., police have raided homes, where addicts crush the time-release tablets and snort or inject the drug. The Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed Tuesday that as part of its first national plan for a prescription medication, it has asked OxyContin's manufacturer to consider limiting its distribution. OxyContin abuse began in rural areas, where narcotics such as heroin are not readily available. The DEA says OxyContin abuse has spread from Appalachia, across Virginia and into Maryland and Washington.
Doctors say the drug is addictive because it's effective.
OxyContin eases pain over time, releasing steady amounts of oxycodone that trick the brain into ignoring what hurts. The time-release tablets allow patients flexibility and the option of taking fewer pills. As patients become tolerant, their dosages are increased, sometimes dramatically. A large dose can immediately stop the heart, doctors say. William Massello, assistant medical examiner in Roanoke, Va., said many overdose victims injected it and probably died instantly.