OFFICIAL NAMES: Endocet, Endocodone, Endodan, M-Oxy, OxyContin, OxyFast, OxyIR, Percocet, Percodan, Percodan-Demi, Percolone, Roxicet, Roxicodone, Roxilox, Roxiprin, Tylox

STREET NAMES: Hillbilly heroin, poor man's heroin, oxy, oxies, oxycotton, OCs, killers, oxycons, percs (or perks), pink spoons.

DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS: Schedule II, narcotic analgesic

Overview

Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic prescription drug with pain-relieving properties similar to those of morphine and codeine. Although commonly known as an opioid analgesic, it is also known as a narcotic analgesic. The drug's ability to relieve moderate to severe pain makes it a good choice for the treatment of many painful conditions, including back pain and headache as well as pain due to cancer and some dental procedures.

Oxycodone is derived from thebaine, one of more than 20 components known as alkaloids (including morphine and codeine) found in opium. In addition to being a primary component of oxycodone, thebaine also is a...