While both oxycodone and heroin are classified as "opiates," the prevalence of lifetime nonmedical use of oxycodone including Oxycontin increased significantly from 2002 to 2003; while the prevalence of lifetime heroin use remained stable. This report pooled data from SAMHSA's 2002 and 2003 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health to examine the nonmedical users of only oxycodone, only heroin use, and both oxycodone and heroin.
An estimated 11 million Americans aged 12 and older had used only Oxycontin or other oxycodone nonmedically at least once in their lifetime, 1.9 million had used only heroin in their lifetime, and 1.7 million had used both oxycodone and heroin in their lifetime.
Rates of drug dependence were higher among those who used both Oxycontin and heroin than used either drug only. Among those whose had used both oxycodone and heroin in their lifetime, 16.1% met the diagnostic criteria for heroin or pain reliever dependence or abuse during the past year. Among those who used only oxycodone, 7.2% met the criteria, and 4% of those who used only heroin in their lifetime met criteria for dependence or abuse for the drug in the past year.
About 42% of the persons who used only oxycodone reported family incomes in the past year of $50,000 or more and about 20% reported family incomes of less than $20,000. In contrast, 25% of those who had used both drugs and 32% of those who had used only heroin reported family incomes of less than $20,000.
