Hillbilly Heroin: A Deadly & Cheap Opioid

Hillbilly heroin is a slang term for the opioid painkiller OxyContin. For decades, this drug was at the top of the most abused drug list in the United States. 

New formulations are forcing some people to try new drugs instead. But far too many people keep dying from hillbilly heroin.

Of all drug overdose deaths in 2021, more than 75% involved an opioid like hillbilly heroin.[1] Researchers say overdose deaths come in waves, and OxyContin was responsible for the first one. 

In the 1990s, the first overdose death wave began with hillbilly heroin. Since then, people have switched to harder street drugs like heroin and fentanyl. Now, they’re responsible for more overdoses than OxyContin.[1]

But OxyContin remains on the market. Some people get it from doctors after an illness or injury. And when they do, they can begin a descent into substance misuse, dependence, opioid use disorder (OUD) and high overdose risks. 

What Is Hillbilly Heroin?

OxyContin is an opioid painkiller dealers sometimes call hillbilly heroin. It’s prescribed to ease discomfort after an illness, injury or surgery. 

Doctors are aware of OxyContin’s risks, and they’ve adjusted their habits. Between 2012 and 2020, opioid dispensing rates dropped to the lowest levels experts had seen in years.[2] Unfortunately, dispensing changes aren’t uniform.

In close to 4% of U.S. counties, doctors dispense enough opioid medications for every person to have one.[2] Far too many people head to doctors’ appointments and walk out with prescriptions for hillbilly heroin. 

Under pressure from regulators, OxyContin’s manufacturers changed their pills. Users could no longer crush tablets into a fine powder for snorting or injecting. Researchers say that switch resulted in a 32% decrease in OxyContin-related entries into drug treatment programs. Doctor shopping rates dropped 50% too.[3]

OxyContin is still available as an oral medication. While it should only be available via a valid prescription from a doctor, people can head to dealers and ask for hillbilly heroin. As long as the drug remains on the market, it’ll find its way to the street and serious risks are present. 

Symptoms of Hillbilly Heroin 

Like all opioid painkillers, OxyContin causes euphoria and sedation. People misuse the drug because it makes them feel happy and relaxed. Some symptoms are easy for outsiders to spot.

Common signs of opioid intoxication include the following:[4]

• Confusion
• Reduced responsiveness
• Delirium 
• Slow breathing
• Sleepiness 
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Small pupils 

Symptoms appear on a spectrum. New users typically experience significant changes with even tiny doses. However, experienced opioid takers may need very high doses to experience the effects. 

Signs of Hillbilly Heroin Use 

Some people who use OxyContin admit the problem right away. Others try to hide their drug misuse from their friends and family. Knowing what drug abuse looks like can help you understand when it’s time to step in and offer your help. 

Experts say substance use disorder symptoms can be placed into the following four categories:[5]

• Lack of control: Drug cravings, an inability to quit despite the desire to do so and recurring relapses fit into this category. 
• Social changes: Poor performance at work, low grades at school and reduced time spent in social settings are all signs of drug use. 
• Persistence: The person keeps using despite known problems. Drug use takes place in risky situations. 
• Changing use: Tolerance, or the need to take larger doses for the same effect, begins. In time, the person experiences drug withdrawal when trying to quit. In serious cases, the person experiences withdrawal between doses. 

A hillbilly heroin user can have a problem without displaying all of these signs. Some people have just one or two, and they still need help to quit for good. But someone with an advanced substance use disorder (SUD) will have symptoms in all four categories. 

Common Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

As drug use continues, the brain and body become dependent on the substance. When users reduce their doses or quit altogether, they experience a set of physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.

Understanding withdrawal is crucial. For people with a long-standing habit, withdrawal can make quitting use of the drug impossible. Every time they try to quit, they feel sick. In time, they can become too frightened to even attempt the process, so the cycle of misuse continues.

Common signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal include the following:[6]

• Watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Goosebumps
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Insomnia 
• Sweating
• Fast or irregular heartbeat 
• Chills 
• High blood pressure

People who attempt a cold-turkey quit may return to drugs to make these symptoms disappear. They may also experience strong drug cravings that make a relapse more likely. Without help, it is very difficult to stop using hillbilly heroin.

Finding Treatment for Opioid Drug Addiction

An estimated 25 million people are in recovery.[7] They’ve quit using drugs like OxyContin and have found a new sense of purpose and meaning. Treatment makes this possible. 

Opioid withdrawal and cravings can make quitting the drug seem almost impossible. Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) involves using therapies like Suboxone. These medications latch to opioid receptors, easing withdrawal triggers and reducing drug cravings.[8-10] 

Some people use MAT for a short period. The medications help them withdraw from the substance and allow them to participate in therapy to rebuild their lives. 

Some people stay on MAT indefinitely. They use therapy to help them start a new life, but MAT ensures that the chemical imbalances caused by OxyContin are adjusted. Cravings never appear again, so relapse risks are significantly reduced. As long as Suboxone or another form of MAT continues to support your recovery, there’s no reason to stop using it.

Access MAT With Bicycle Health

MAT is remarkably effective, but it’s sometimes hard to access. Some people who use hillbilly heroin find that it’s easier to get OxyContin than it is to get Suboxone. Bicycle Health can change that.

Bicycle Health uses a telemedicine model, so you can reach your doctor via video conversations. We will assess your condition, and if you’re a good candidate, we will offer a prescription for Suboxone that you can fill at a local pharmacy. 

You’ll stay in touch with your team via more video appointments. You’ll never be alone in the recovery process. We’ll guide you through it.

Contact us to find out if this is the right approach for you and your substance misuse. We would love to help you reduce your reliance on hillbilly heroin for good. With the right help, you can rebuild your life and embrace a better future.