Oxycontin addiction is a physical dependence that is unavoidable when an individual is exposed to high doses of the drug for an extended period of time. The body then adapts and develops a tolerance for Oxycontin. The addiction is so powerful that it produces cravings. These cravings for Oxycontin are the result of its impact on the individual's memory with feelings of pleasantness and euphoria which the individual has come to associate with the taking of Oxycontin. The subconscious memory then motivates the individual to seek this drug because of its false imprint of Oxycontin.

Oxycontin, like other addictive prescription drugs is able to short-circuit your survival system. It artificially stimulates the reward center, or pleasure zones in your brain, without anything beneficial happening to your body. As this happens, it leads to increased confidence in Oxycontin and less confidence in the normal rewards of life.

In addition to the psychological addiction of Oxycontin there is also a physical addiction. Overtime the individual no longer experiences the same feeling of euphoria they once did but still continues to use because the pain that they suffer is far to great with out it. Individuals addicted to Oxycontin suffer: cold sweats, diarrhea, insomnia, muscle pain / bone pain, restlessness, involuntary leg movement, vomiting, nausea, and severe stomach cramps without Oxycontin in their system.

Once the individual is addicted, their interests decrease in other aspects of their life as they increase their reliance on Oxycontin. People, places, and activities or lifestyles that worked through their normal reward system before using Oxycontin become less important. Overtime, individuals heavily addicted to Oxycontin, will begin to resent people, places, and activities that do not fit with their drug abusing lifestyle.

Individuals with an addiction to Oxycontin obtain the drug in a variety of ways including pharmacy diversion, "Doctor Shopping" and improper prescribing practices by physicians. Pharmacy diversion occurs when the pharmacy staff takes the Oxycontin directly from the shelves, or when people make fraudulent prescriptions.

The most widely used diversion technique of those with an addiction to Oxycontin at the street level is doctor shopping. Individuals may or may not have a legitimate ailment requiring a doctors prescription for controlled substances. They visit numerous doctors, sometimes in several states, to acquire large amounts of Oxycontin which they abuse or sell to others who share their addiction.

Another way Oxycontin is obtained is through improper prescribing practices by unscrupulous physicians. According to law enforcement sources survey by the NDIC, the abuse of Oxycontin as with the abuse of most prescription drugs, creates a cycle of health care fraud. For example, a corrupt physician writes an addicted patient a prescription for Oxycontin for a non-existent injury. The physician bills the insurance company for that, and subsequent visits. The patient uses a portion of the Oxycontin and sells the rest for a substantial profit. Oxycontin addiction has led to an increased number of pharmacy robberies, thefts, shoplifting incidents, and health care fraud incidents.