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Similar to heroin, oxycodone produces â along with pain management â a euphoric high caused by stimulation of the reward center of the brain. Oxycodone elevates levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is considered the pleasure chemical of the brain. On the street, OxyContin is known as âOxy,â âOC,â âOxyCotton,â âHillbilly Heroin,â and âKickers,â and is often used if heroin or morphine is not available.
OxyContin was developed to treat patients with chronic pain. One of the main health benefits of OxyContin is its ability to treat pain for up to 12 hours due to a time-release component within the drug. Over the course of 12 hours, the drug releases Oxycodone. Individuals who abuse OxyContin use alternative methods of administration in order to eliminate the time-release mechanism of the drug. Users often crush the tablet to swallow, snort or smoke the drug.