What Kind of Drug Is It?

Oxycodone is a painkiller derived from the opium poppy plant. It is a synthetic drug, meaning that it is chemically altered in the laboratory. Sold mostly in prescription pill form, oxycodone is meant to be used by people suffering moderate to severe pain that is expected to last for more than a few weeks. The drug must be used with great care, since it can be habit-forming even for people who take it as directed. For those who use it illegally, it can be as addictive—and every bit as dangerous—as heroin. (An entry on heroin is available in this encyclopedia.)

Oxycodone can be found in many prescription painkillers. But it is mainly associated with three brand-name drugs: 1) Percocet, a combination of oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen (Tylenol); 2) Percodan, a combination of oxycodone hydrochloride and aspirin; and 3) OxyContin, a time-release formula of...