earlier, oxycontin is a time-released version of oxycodone and releases it's painkilling effects over a 12-hour period. Oxycodone is an opiate derived from other opioids: morphine , diacetylmorphine (heroin), and codeine. If oxycontin is crushed then snorted or injected it can produce a heroin-like high, leading to its nickname, "Hillbilly Heroin."