Vicodin and OxyContin.

New York Times Upfront, Oct 9, 2006

Legal but Dangerous

Addiction can occur with many drugs, not just "street drugs" like heroin. Painkilling drugs such as Vicodin and OxyContin may seem safe because they're available by prescription, but many teens don't realize that they are also very addictive if not used as directed by a physician. This is not surprising, since the active ingredient in OxyContin acts at the same site in the brain as heroin.

The case of Jacob [name changed] puts the dangers of prescription painkillers in focus. Jacob began using OxyContin at 18, and before long was selling pills to help support his habit. (Selling prescription drugs makes you a drug dealer and subject to criminal prosecution.) Eventually Jacob moved from OxyContin to heroin. "If I'd never touched OxyContin, I wouldn't have done heroin," he claims. Luckily, Jacob eventually faced his addiction and entered a drug treatment program.