Oxycodone is a prescription drug, but you don't need a doctor's note to get it --or abuse it -- on most college campuses. You may know oxycodone by one of its street names, which include oxy, oxycotton and hillbilly heroin. When taken as prescribed, oxycodone is a powerful pain reliever similar to morphine. When taken, Oxycodone creates a euphoric feeling and is very effective in mitigating pain. Oxycodone is the primary ingredient in prescription painkillers like Percodan, where it is combined with aspirin, and Percocet, where it is combined with acetaminophen. It is also available in an extended-release formula known as Oxycontin. No matter which formulation is taken is used, it is usually swallowed whole or crushed and snorted. Once taken, oxycodone travels to the brain's central nervous system, where it binds to opioid receptors in the pleasure centers of the brain, producing an intense euphoria. Depending on the quantity of Oxycodone consumed, the euphoria and pain relief can last from five to eight hours. Oxycodone is highly addictive, and tolerance to the drug's effects can build up over a relatively small number of uses. An oxycodone overdose can lead to loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, or even death. While oxycodone may seem to offer a pleasurable escape, remember that there can be severe consequences, and know that using oxycodone without a prescription is illegal.