A Multifaceted Analysis of Oxycodone Addiction

Oxycodone is an important therapeutic agent in the treatment of pain. However, its excessive use in medical practice, as well as escalating rates of illegal sharing and high potential for abuse, has generated a public health crisis in North America. The objective of this review is to discuss the prevalence, clinical utility, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and addictive properties of oxycodone. Oxycodone has an abuse liability that is similar to other opioids, and in some cases, even greater. The introduction to oxycodone use can come from peers at school, during the treatment of pain, or from the black market. Implementing approaches that increase training of doctors in conjunction with more information for patients, as well as employing harm reduction strategies, diversion resistant products, and drug monitoring programs, may help to reduce the risk of oxycodone misuse and abuse.