Expert: Vincent Camarda - 1/21/2004

Question
I recently experimented with oxycontin. I know I know, I'm an idiot, long story short party with friends and poor judgement.My question is how long does this drug stay in my system? I have a good job that randomly tests and I really need to know this. Is this really heroin?

Answer
I am not here to judge you and do not think that you are an idiot...Anyway, Oxycontin is not heroin, per say.  It has been called "hillbilly heroin", although why, I do not know.  Both oxycodone, the ingredient in Oxycontin, and heroin are both derived by the poppy plant.  They have similiar effects.  In regards to detection, it is impossible to say with certainty.  Here are the facts:  The drug is detectable with your basic urine screen for 1-4 days.  This, I believe, is for the sustained release form of oxycodone, or oxycontin.  I also believe that the drug is usually crushed and snorted.  If this is the case, the sustained release formulation is broken and the tablet becomes immediate release.  This would shorten detection time, but by how much, it is impossible to say.  There are also tests that can detect smaller quantities of the drug.  They are expensive, and are usually used  only to confirm a positive result from the first test.  Don't get a false sense of security by obtaining anything claiming to beat the tests.  They usually do not work, and the ingredients in them will be detected and raise a flag, even if the drug test is negative.  You can usually beat any test by drinking a lot of water (like a half gallon), thereby diluting the urine, but a dilute urine is also a flag.  To help get rid of the drug, excersize and plenty of fluids will help you metabolize the drug that is in you faster.  
    I gave you this information because I do not want you to lose your job, and I do not feel that recreational drug use is a horrible thing.  To me, drug testing is invasion of privacy, and does not necessarily correlate to a decrease in production.  It can ruin lives without any positive result, and most drug users can learn to work the system, and beat the tests.  Consider this, however:  If your job is investing the money to randomly drug test, you probably have a position which requires a sharp mind.  People are expecting that sharp mind and deserve it, and you are compensated for it.  Also, if you continue to use drugs while at this job, you will eventually get caught, even if you become expert at fooling the tests.
    You can do  a search engine search under drug testing, and obtain information regarding the tests, and if you must party, you can at least learn when and how do it in such a way as to not risk a positive drug screen.