A total of 8,059 students 18-25 years
of age from 23 Indiana colleges participated in the Indiana College Substance Use Survey conducted in Spring 2021.
Risk and Protective Factors
Oxycontin®
Oxycontin®, also known as Oxy, Killer, Oxycotton, and Hillbilly Heroin, is the trademark of a form of oxycodone hydrochloride used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is available in a number of controlled-release tablets and also in lower-dosage immediate release capsules. Oxycontin® abusers typically crush, inject, or inhale the drug, releasing an uncontrolled dose of the drug into the body, which produces a short-term high similar to that of heroin. Used over time, it can produce effects such as addiction, irritability, and insomnia; withdrawal can also create short-term effects such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, and diarrhea. Although it has the potential to be abused among all demographics, data indicate that the 18-25 year old bracket is the most likely to use prescription painkillers in a non-medical manner. Oxtcontin® can be acquired through purchases on the street (about $1/mg of the drug), and can also be obtained through doctor shopping and false prescriptions.
