THE HISTORY OF OXYCONTIN

The drug OxyContin is manufactured from thebaine and it is a powerful and addictive opiod used for the purpose of providing relief from pain. The name OxyContin is originated from codeine and they also have related chemical structures. The only difference is that the hydrogen on the codeine is oxidized to hydroxyl. For this reason, oxy and hydroxyl group develop into ketone group.

Thus, the name oxycondone is used. 

In the 1960s, the possibilities of hazard of this drug were found. It was considered as a part of The Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1960, by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Government of Unite states has categorized it as a schedule II drug as an increasing number of abusers has been found in the United States ever since the 1960s.

There wasn’t much worry over the abuse of OxyContin when it was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However when this drug was promoted and distributed in the market by its producers, illegal use and abuse of this drug started to rise.

Initially, increase in the abuse of OxyContin was reported by the pharmacists, law enforcement personnel and drug abuse treatment centers in Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Maine. At present, this drug abuse has spread all over America.