In an effort to discourage misuse and abuse of the drug OxyContin, the FDA has approved a new formulation of the medication. The drug is prescribed for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous analgesic is needed for an extended period of time. Read the FDA's news release FDA Approves New Formulation for OxyContin.
In its new form, the drug is harder to crush, cut, chew, ground, or dissolve in liquid. While it is not expected to be the "end all" for OxyContin addiction and abuse, experts agree that it is a step in the right direction. The new formulation is really aimed at cutting down on the number of accidental overdoses related to the drug that occur each year. According to the FDA, about half a million people people used OxyContin for the first time for non-medical reasons in 2008, citing statistics from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Other recent news on OxyContin...
Los Angeles Times Article - OxyContin Gets a Safety Makeover
New York Times Article - Harder-To-Break OxyContin Pill Wins Approval
NPR - Prescription Drug Overdoses Send More People to Hospitals
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