A Brief Survey to Characterize Oxycodone Abuse Patterns in Adolescents Enrolled in Two Substance Abuse Recovery High Schools

Abstract

Background: Although oxycodone is one of the most widely available and abused opioids, little published information exists on the abuse of immediate-release oxycodone. Objective: To obtain information on abuse of oxycodone and the effectiveness of abuse-deterrent strategies, especially for immediate-release oxycodone, we surveyed oxycodone abuse patterns in a population of experienced opioid abusers. Methods: Students or recent graduates of two substance abuse recovery high schools in Massachusetts were surveyed on abuse behaviors with short-acting single-entity oxycodone (e.g., Roxicodone), short-acting combination oxycodone (e.g., Percocet), and extended-release oxycodone. Results: Twenty-four students completed surveys. Mean age was 17.7 years (range 16–19), and mean age at first abuse of oxycodone was 15 (range 13–18). Overall, 56% of students reported oxycodone as their favorite prescription opioid to abuse. The primary preferred method of abuse of all oxycodone formulations was intranasal administration: 83% of single-entity oxycodone abusers preferred intranasal administration compared with 67% of combination oxycodone abusers and 69% of extended-release oxycodone abusers. Approximately half of our respondents preferred to ingest oxycodone orally, 25–38% of respondents swallowed the pill intact, and another 13–17% chewed the pill before swallowing. Maximum dose ever abused at one time ranged from 15 to 400 mg. Most respondents had abused ≥60 mg of oxycodone at a time. Conclusions: In this small study, adolescent oxycodone abusers use high quantities of oxycodone at a time, alter routes of administration for not only extended-release but also immediate-release products, and commonly abuse single-entity oxycodone products. Abuse-deterrent formulations may be one strategy for addressing such behaviors.

• adolescents
• opioids
• oxycodone
• substance abuse
• tamper resistant

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was funded in part by a grant from King Pharmaceuticals.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and the writing of this paper.

Notice of Correction

This paper was published online on 5 January 2012 containing a mistake in the spelling of the first author. The correct spelling is Eric Osgood, M.D. The paper in its present form is correct.