What is OxyContin and why is it at the centre of the opioid crisis?
An extended-release oxycodone approved in 1995 — promoted as a long-term pain solution for common chronic conditions — whose aggressive marketing is linked to about 900,000 deaths since 1999 and more than $30 billion in Purdue revenues.
OxyContin is an extended-release formulation of oxycodone, a powerful opioid, intended to provide steady pain relief over 12 hours. It is a Schedule II controlled substance, the category with the highest potential for abuse among legally available drugs. Purdue's aggressive promotion from the late 1990s helped normalise long-term opioid prescribing for common chronic pain, not just cancer or end-of-life care. Lawsuits alleged Purdue downplayed OxyContin's addiction risk while encouraging doctors to prescribe it for chronic pain. The resulting crisis has been linked to about 900,000 deaths since 1999. OxyContin was also enormously profitable: Purdue reaped more than $30 billion from its sales over the years.