The addictive qualities of Oxycontin are so powerful that it has become the leading cause of death by overdose.
Oxycontin previously was easily crushed. Once reduced to fine powder, the medication could be easily snorted, or injected.
It is one of the most potent opiates in the world. Once developed for the management of extreme pain, it is now doled out for even minor and sometimes uncertified injuries or pain.
Because Oxycontin is designed to provide relief for almost 12 hours, it is a very high dose of narcotic, that if taken at once can significantly heighten the chance of overdose.
Because of its time release properties, the person who assumes the drug does not get an 'up-front' high. For this reason, pharmaceutical companies hailed it as an addiction proof drug when they first introduced them.
Following complaints from several agencies and watchdog groups, the producers of the drugs have re-formulated it to be almost uncrushable since 2010. And the change seems to have slowed down the onslaught of dependancy cases. But many addicts are simply switching to other similar compounds that are not so impregnable.
Pharmaceutical companies are trying to respond with new formulations for a range of medications. Some of it is due to the criticism lobbied at the companies that produce the drugs, since it is marketed heavily and promoted for use that, in all honesty, many think is excessive.
In fact, some of the pharmaceutical companies have been sued successfully by federal agencies and have already paid out close to 634 million dollars in awards. And those lawsuits were brought against those companies for misleading the consumer on the potential for addiction carried by the drugs.
The new formulas would also not allow the crushed form to be heated into a solution. The polymers used to give its uncrushable property would also make it shrink into a goopy ball when heated, preventing drug users from injecting it, as can be seen from the photo below on the right.
Another device could be the use of antagonists. These small chemical particles would be released only if the pill is crushed, neutralizing the opioid substance in the compound.
Drug abuse on Oxyconting has dropped by 60% in some groups, and 40% among rehab treated patients since the changes have been put in place, making the new solution a viable alternative to drug enforcement.
More importantly however, is a recognition on the pharmaceutical companies' need to do something to halt the abuse of prescription drugs.
Source : Pop Science 5.14.13
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