Opinion ID: 1691213
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Effects of Oxycontin

Text: Detective Hunter testified on direct examination that Oxycontin is a synthetic Morphine tablet with a pharmaceutical name of Oxycodone. Detective Hunter stated that the drug is more potent and addictive if the pills are crushed and either snorted or injected. He further noted that an addict would require increasing amounts of the drug to continue to achieve the same level of intoxication. While we would agree with the Court of Appeals that evidence of the nature of Oxycontin has little, if any, relevance to whether or not Mitchell sold the drug to an undercover informant, we disagree that the substance of Detective Hunter's testimony contained matters of specialized scientific knowledge. See KRE 702. Detective Hunter informed the jury of his specialized training in narcotics police work, the number of Oxycontin cases he had handled, and the seminar training he had received on Oxycontin. The crux of Detective Hunter's testimony concerned the manner in which users consume Oxycontin, which was within the scope of his training and experience. At no point did he venture into the realm of the true medical effects of the drug. In fact, the trial court summed it up by stating, This is something that's in the realm of common knowledge of this day and time and it's not offered for expert [sic]. Defense counsel did not object to the substance of Detective Hunter's testimony, but rather that he was being portrayed as an expert. That Oxycontin is addictive is a known fact. Notwithstanding, this testimony could not have prejudiced Mitchell because it was not relevant to the issue of whether she sold Oxycontin. Thus, we do not conclude that Detective Hunter's testimony warrants reversal of Mitchell's conviction.