Table of Contents
Oxycodone Addiction, Abuse, and Symptoms

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Basics

This guide explains the effects, trends, and dangers of oxycodone use, as well as an unbiased analysis of the medicinal and behavioral treatment methods for oxycodone addiction based on current research and publically available statistics. In some cases, usage statistics are derived from the use of specific substances containing oxycodone, such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan or from general opioid-based prescription pain reliever use.

Primary Oxycodone Dangers

  • Addictiveness: Oxycodone is considered highly addictive, and the serious physical and mental side effects that occur when the medication is stopped make it more difficult to quit. A comprehensive 2007 study by Nutt et al. evaluated the addictive potential of 20 substances based on pleasure, physical, and psychological dependence. Although the scale didn’t include oxycodone, it did include heroin, which is considered the illicit equivalent of opioids. Heroin ranked the highest of all substances, scoring 3 out of 3 in every category.
  • Risk of overdose: Due to the potential risk of oxycodone overdose, doctors may tell patients to keep naloxone, a rescue medication, with them. This medication counters the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. A person experiencing an oxycodone overdose usually can’t treat themselves, so patients are told to teach friends, family members, and coworkers how to recognize the signs of an overdose and how to administer naloxone. Signs of an oxycodone overdose include cold and clammy skin, muscle weakness, extreme drowsiness, confusion, slowed or stopped breathing, fainting, and slow heart rate.
  • Unintended side effects: In addition to nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, headache, sleep apnea, mood changes, severe stomach or abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue, oxycodone can also cause irregular heartbeat, shallow or slow breathing, fainting, seizures, difficulty waking, coma, and death.
  • Legal risks: Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance. Possession of oxycodone without a valid prescription is a misdemeanor that’s commonly punishable by a minimum fine of $1,000 and up to one year in prison for a first offense. The penalties for a first-time possession offense can be much higher, and individuals can be charged with a felony if the amount possessed is large enough to be labeled as possession with intent to distribute.

Oxycodone Background Information

Derived From Semisynthetic narcotic analgesic synthesized from thebaine, a component of the poppy plant
Ways Used Ingested, crushed then snorted, dissolved in water then injected, heated on foil and inhaling vapors
Scientific Name 4,5-epoxy-14-hydroxy-3-methoxy-17-methyl- morphinan-6-one, dihydrohydroxycodeinone
Slang/Street Names for Librium Hillbilly heroin, OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycet, OxyCotton, cotton, Roxy, Roxy shorts, greens, greenies, whites, blues, buttons, beans, kickers, killers, muchachas, mujeres, 30s, 40s, 512s
How Long in Bodily System Half-life:
3.2 hours for immediate-release formulas
4.5 hours for extended-release formulas
Punitive Legal Measures: Using/Possession Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance, so it’s illegal to possess it without a valid prescription. Legal measures for possession vary by state, but the first offense for possession is usually a misdemeanor and can result in a minimum fine of $1,000 and up to one year in prison. Subsequent offenses can be charged as a felony offense with increased fines and prison time.
Punitive Legal Measures: Selling/Distributing Possession with intent to sell and distribution are treated equally. An individual convicted of either could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of no more than $1,000,000. If a Schedule II drug is distributed near a school or other youth-centered facility, the penalties double and include at least one year in prison.
DEA Drug Rating Schedule II

Signs of Abuse

Behavioral Symptoms of Oxycodone Usage and Abuse

How oxycodone affects the brain

Oxycodone changes the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain by stopping the pain signals from traveling along the nerves to the brain. It also accesses the pleasure center of the brain, releasing dopamine and causing a euphoric high, relaxation, and a sense of well-being. On a chemical level, opioid-based medications, such as oxycodone, are very similar to heroin and present the same risk of a substance use disorder, even when patients take their prescriptions as instructed.

Over time, oxycodone can cause changes in the brain, which can increase the risk of dependence and addiction. Long-term use can also cause permanent changes in the brain that impact cognitive functions, including issues with memory, attention, learning new information, impulse control, and problem-solving.

Behavioral signs of oxycodone usage and abuse

Abusing oxycodone can lead to a wide array of behavioral changes, including continually increasing use and having an inability to stop, even when it negatively impacts health, finances, and/or personal relationships. The preoccupation with using oxycodone can lead to poor performance at school or work and failure to meet significant responsibilities at home. Some abusers cut back on activities they previously enjoyed, isolate themselves from loved ones, and become secretive about their whereabouts and activities. They may become more irritable, ignore personal hygiene and grooming, and display other drastic changes in their behavior.

For some people, oxycodone can be a gateway drug to illicit drug use. If they can’t get a valid prescription and can’t borrow or steal oxycodone from someone they know, they may try to buy some on the street. Heroin is sometimes easier to get than oxycodone and affects the body much the same way. An estimated 51.3% of people who misused pain relievers in 2018 got their last pills from a friend or relative, but about one in 15 of them bought the pills from a drug dealer or other stranger.

Physical Symptoms of Oxycodone Abuse

How oxycodone affects the body

Oxycodone affects the body by blocking pain within approximately 30 minutes of ingestion. It takes about one to two hours for immediate-release formulas to reach peak concentrations and about three to four hours for extended-release versions. During this time, euphoria may set in, but most people also experience other bodily effects, whether it’s being taken recreationally or as prescribed to treat pain. Some symptoms go away after taking the medication for a few days, but other symptoms get worse the longer the medication is taken.

Early physical effects of oxycodone

Some negative physical effects that may begin right away include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, stomach pain, slowed breathing and heart rate, and dilated pupils. Some of these side effects linger for a while, but many begin to decrease as your body gets used to the medication. Other effects may start a bit later and get worse over time, including constipation, sweating, fatigue, mood changes, difficulty urinating, agitation, and confusion. However, not everyone has side effects when taking oxycodone as directed, and many side effects can be prevented or managed with a doctor’s care.

This table illustrates the possible short-term physical effects associated with oxycodone.
Short-term Physical Symptoms
Initial (direct effects of drug, 30 – 60 min.) Pain relief
Euphoria
Relaxation
Sleepiness
Nausea
Vomiting
Dilated pupils
Lingering (within an hour of taking the drug) Dry mouth
Confusion
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Impaired coordination
Poor appetite
Excessive sweating
Slow or shallow breathing
Decreased blood pressure
Trouble urinating
Constipation
Hallucinations
Post-Use (several hours to days after use) Insomnia
Agitation
Heightened sensitivity to pain
Muscle pain
Stomach pain
Irritability
Mood changes
Drug cravings

Severe and long-term physical effects of oxycodone

Chronic or long-term use of oxycodone can affect several systems within the body, including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, immune, musculoskeletal, endocrine, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. Some severe physical effects can be made worse when combining oxycodone with alcohol or other drugs that slow breathing and/or compromise the central nervous system.

The more oxycodone a person takes and the longer they take it, the worse physical effects can get. Many negative effects may improve once oxycodone use or abuse stops, but some damage may be permanent, especially changes within the brain. Increasing the amount or frequency of dosage also increases the risk of overdose.

When oxycodone is used for a long time, it may also become habit-forming and cause physical dependence. People who are physically dependent on an opioid-based pain reliever may go through withdrawal if they stop taking the medication suddenly. It can take days, sometimes weeks, for physical withdrawal systems to completely disappear.

This table illustrates the possible long-term physical effects associated with oxycodone.
Long-term Physical Symptoms
Casual Tolerance
Risk of dependence and addiction
Slowed breathing
Problems sleeping
Dizziness
Chronic
Including all of the above effects for casual use
Constipation
Hypoxia (low oxygen in tissues)
Increased sensitivity to pain
Sleep apnea
Slow heart rate
Low blood pressure
Sexual dysfunction in men
Osteoporosis in women
Depressed immune system
Increased infections
Heart problems
Liver damage (especially when taking oxycodone combined with acetaminophen)
Kidney damage
Potentially irreversible changes in the brain
Increased chance of overdose
Coma or death
Withdrawal Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Running nose
Watery eyes
Sweating alternating with cold flashes
Twitching and tremors
Anxiety
Restlessness
Muscle, joint, and bone pain
Sleep issues
Irritability
Intense cravings
Severe depression

Further Resources

Both the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offer in-depth information on both the symptoms and treatment of oxycodone and other prescription opioid addictions.

Oxycodone Usage

Global oxycodone usage has decreased from previous years but remains high

Global manufacturing of oxycodone reached a record high of 138 tons in 2013 and has had its ups and downs since; decreasing in 2014 and 2015, increasing in 2016, then dropping again in 2017 and 2018. The United States created 60.5% of the 95.4 tons of oxycodone manufactured globally in 2018. Although production was down, exports hit a record high of 41.1 tons, with most of this increase primarily attributed to the United Kingdom, which was also the main importing country.

With the decrease in manufacturing, global consumption of oxycodone also decreased in 2018, which saw 59.8 tons consumed compared to 62.6 tons in 2017. Consumption was more concentrated in North America, Western Europe, and Oceania, with lesser amounts consumed in West Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and South-Eastern Europe. The United States consumed the largest portion of the global total with 37.9 tons, or 63.4%, consumed in this country alone. Other countries with notable consumption rates included Germany with 3.5 tons, Canada and Australia with 3 tons each, the United Kingdom with 1.7 tons, France with 1.6 tons, China with 1.2 tons, and Spain with 1 ton.

Oxycodone Use Throughout the World
Highest Second Third
Regions with Highest Consumption of Oxycodone North America Western Europe Oceania
Countries with the Largest Consumption of Oxycodone in 2018  North America

(63.4% of world total)

Germany (5.8% of world total) Canada (5.8% of world total)

Oxycodone Usage Demographics in the U.S.

Oxycodone use is well below peak usage but remains concerning among adolescents

The number of individuals misusing prescription pain relievers in 2018 remained high, with 9.9 million people aged 12 and older in the United States misusing these drugs over the past year. As the country with the largest consumption of oxycodone, it’s not surprising that oxycodone products were the second most misused painkillers after hydrocodone products. An estimated 3.4 million people, or 1.2% of the population, misused oxycodone products, including OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet, Roxicodone, and generic oxycodone.

Prescription pain reliever misuse was lowest among adolescents aged 12 to 17, with 2.8% in this age group misusing oxycodone and other opioid-based prescriptions, which represented about 695,000 adolescents in the U.S. Young adults accounted for 1.9 million of the total group, with 5.5% of people aged 18 to 25 misusing prescription painkillers. Adults aged 26 and older had the largest numbers, with 7.4 million, or 3.4% of this age group, misusing pain relievers in the past year. Adolescents have specifically maintained an ongoing dip in OxyContin use, especially compared to previous peaks with 8th graders peaking in 2006, 10th graders in 2009, and 12th graders in 2005.

Demographics of OxyContin (Extended-Release Oxycodone) Usage
Past Year (2018) OxyContin Use Peak OxyContin Use
8th grade (14-15 yo) 0.8% 2.6% (2006)
10th grade (15-16 yo) 2.20% 5.1% (2009)
12th grade (17-18 yo) 2.30% 5.5% (2005)

How to Find Help

Oxycodone is an extremely strong, potentially habit-forming opioid-based pain reliever. Opioids cause changes in the brain that make physical addiction more likely and quitting more difficult. Severe withdrawal symptoms can occur if a long-term user suddenly stops taking oxycodone, so tapering is typically recommended. Medications and behavioral therapies can help a person overcome oxycodone addiction, which can be difficult but possible with the right support. To learn more about the treatment process, read our Oxycodone rehabilitation guide, which offers a comprehensive resource for beginning the road to recovery.

Staging an Intervention

If you have a loved one who’s struggling with addiction, staging an intervention is often the first necessary step towards sobriety, but it’s important to be strategic and loving in your approach. Even the most well-meaning of interventions can have a negative effecthttps://www.samhsa.gov/dbhis-collections/acute-interventions if they aren’t handled correctly.

5 Tips for Staging an Intervention

1. Don’t Do It Alone. A professional interventionist is always the most qualified to guide a successful intervention. Also, rely on non-addict family and friends — especially those who have a close relationship with you or the addict.
2. Research Ahead of Time. It’s best to do plenty of research ahead of time to gather insight on the addiction and how it affects the addict. Also, be prepared with local resources for getting help.
3. Write Out Your Statement. During the actual intervention, emotions will likely be running high, so it’s best to have a statement of how the person’s addiction has impacted you and your relationship with him or her. These statements should be honest yet written from a place of love — no personal attacks.
4. Offer Help. It’s important for everyone attending the intervention to offer tangible help and support as the person works through detox and rehabilitation.
5. Set Boundaries. If the person refuses to seek help and take the next steps outlined, it’s important that they understand that everyone present will end codependent and enabling behaviors.

Sources