OxyContin comes in time-release pill form.  The pills should be swallowed whole, leaving them to release small amounts of oxycodone into the body over several hours.  When they are chewed or crushed, this time-release feature is bypassed and the effect is a high similar to that produced by heroin.  People also abuse the drug by crushing it and snorting it or by crushing it, dissolving it in water and injecting it like heroin.  

When taken on a daily basis, OxyContin can create a physical dependency.  If a physician does not monitor usage, this almost always results in a full-blown and dangerous addiction. 

The combination of OxyContin with alcohol or other chemical substances can be fatal.  An overdose of OxyContin will suppress the respiratory system, making it difficult to breathe.  The most common cause of death with OxyContin is for the user to fall asleep and their breathing gradually decrease until it stops completely. 

People with legitimate chronic pain find OxyContin to be very effective but it is now widely abused by those without prescriptions.  Young people, especially, are susceptible to the drug and most people don’t realize just how dangerous it is.  People believe that it’s safer because you don’t run the risk of it being laced with other substances (like cocaine and heroin are) and it is fairly inexpensive to buy.