Oxycodone is a prescription painkiller that belongs to a class of drugs known as semi-synthetic opioid analgesics. These medications work by acting on opioid receptors in the brain.
Oxycodone has medical applications for relieving severe pain associated with chronic injuries, surgery, cancer, arthritis, and more. It comes in pill or tablet form, and doses range from 10 to 80 milligrams (mg).
Due to its euphoric, relaxing, and sedating effects, it has become a common drug of abuse among all age groups. More than 1 million Americans abuse oxycodone each year.
Oxycodone is extremely addictive, and physical dependence can form in just two weeks. The severity of this prescription painkiller’s withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult for people to stop using the drug.
It is a Schedule II controlled substance, the same as cocaine and methamphetamine. It’s also more expensive than many illicit drugs found on the black market.
How Much Oxycodone Costs On The Street
While the street value of oxycodone can vary, there are some average prices used by drug dealers around the U.S.
The immediate-release and extended-release formulas tend to cost roughly the same amount. On average, people spend about $1 per milligram (mg) for oxycodone on the street.
Dosage | Price |
1 mg | $1 |
10 mg | $1 - $30 |
40 mg | $80 |
Many dealers purchase in bulk, which can lower their costs significantly to just a few cents per milligram and comes with increased legal risks.
How Oxycodone Is Abused
Oxycodone only comes in pill formulations, and the extended-release version is the most commonly found.
Some people who abuse opioids swallow the pills whole, but others pulverize them to snort, smoke, or inject the powder.
Injecting oxycodone in powder form mixed with a liquid is the most dangerous form of abuse, but people may do this to bypass the extended-release effects and get the entire dose at once.
Factors That Affect The Street Price Of Oxycodone
One of the most significant factors that can affect the street value of opioids is location. People who live in major cities in New York or California often pay more than people in rural areas like North Carolina or Ohio.
As oxycodone addiction became a serious concern in the late 2000s, law enforcement agencies began to focus their efforts on stopping illicit use and distribution.
This caused the street value of opioids to rise, since dealers now faced more serious criminal charges if they were caught.
The form of oxycodone purchased can also affect price. Name-brand pills and tablets tend to cost more than the generic versions.
Additionally, counterfeit oxycodone pills with additives are becoming increasingly common. Many dealers have begun lacing their supply with fentanyl and other additives to add cheap bulk.
Risks Of Abusing Oxycodone Products
Abusing any form of opioid comes with serious risks. People can develop severe substance use disorders and experience other negative physical and mental health effects.
Overdosing on illicit opioid products has become endemic in recent years, as fentanyl-laced pills flood the black market.
There were more than 70,000 overdose deaths in 2022 as a result of fentanyl, and many of these cases were attributed to fentanyl-laced opioid tablets purchased illegally.
Mixing oxycodone with other substances, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, can also increase a person’s risk of drug overdose.
Signs of an oxycodone overdose include:
- pinpoint pupils
- labored or slowed breathing
- slowed heart rate
- loss of consciousness
- cold skin
- muscle weakness
If you see someone experiencing these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Treatment Options For Prescription Drug Abuse
If you are concerned that you or a loved one is battling opioid addiction, there are a few key signs to look for.
These include:
- trying and failing to quit drug use
- loss of interest in hobbies or activities
- withdrawing from loved ones
- difficulties at work or school
- spending increasing amounts of time and money acquiring oxycodone
- needing larger doses to feel the same effects
- experiencing withdrawal symptoms without oxycodone
Evidence-based and holistic treatment methods can help people overcome substance abuse.
The gold standard for opioid addiction treatment is medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines behavioral therapy with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone.
These prescription medications work on opioid receptors in the brain to prevent withdrawal symptoms and block the euphoric effects of opioids.
People with opioid use disorders are more likely to need inpatient services like medical detox. Group therapy, 12-step meetings, and relapse prevention are other common services.
Seeking treatment as soon as possible is vital in ensuring lasting recovery.
Find Substance Use Disorder Treatment Today
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of drug addiction or dependency, don’t wait to find help. Reach out to Detox Rehabs today to learn more about your treatment options.
Article Sources- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Drug Fact Sheet: Oxycodone
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Oxycodone-2020_0.pdf - Justice.gov – OxyContin Fact Sheet
https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs6/6025/6025p.pdf - National Library of Medicine – Changes in the Street Prices of Prescription Opioids During the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35770425/ - National Library of Medicine – Scoring the best deal: Quantity discounts and street price variation of diverted oxycodone and oxymorphone
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766592/