You’re looking at a small, round tablet. It’s got an "OC" or maybe an "OP" stamped on one side. If you’re searching for pictures of OxyContin pills, you probably aren't just curious about photography; you’re likely trying to verify a medication, worried about a family member, or trying to spot a counterfeit. It’s a high-stakes game. Identifying these pills visually used to be straightforward back in the early 2000s, but today, with the rise of pressed fentanyl and the 2010 reformulation of the brand-name drug, things are way messier than they look on a Google Image search.
Let’s be real. Pills look alike. A lot.
The Visual Evolution of OxyContin
Back in the day, OxyContin was the "miracle" drug that turned into a nightmare. If you look at old pictures of OxyContin pills, you’ll see the original formulation. These were small, round, and remarkably easy to crush. That was the "OC" era. Purdue Pharma manufactured these with a clear coding system: a number for the milligrams on one side (like 10, 20, 40, or 80) and "OC" on the other. The colors were distinct. A 10mg pill was white. The 20mg was pink. The 40mg was yellow, and the infamous 80mg was a dull, mossy green.
Everything changed in 2010.
Purdue updated the formula to make the pills "abuse-deterrent." Basically, if you try to crush a modern OxyContin pill, it doesn't turn into powder; it turns into a weird, gummy plastic. To signal this change, they swapped the "OC" stamp for "OP." So, if you see a picture of a pill with "OP" on it, you’re looking at the newer, harder-to-tamper-with version. But here’s the kicker: the "OC" version is still manufactured and sold in other countries, like Canada and parts of Europe, under different brand names like Mundipharma. This creates a massive grey market where "original" formula pills are shipped back into the States, making visual identification a total headache for law enforcement and pharmacists alike.
Why the Imprint Matters More Than the Color
Colors fade. Lighting in a photo can be garbage. A yellow 40mg pill might look tan in a basement light or bright neon under a camera flash.
You have to look at the imprint.
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The imprint is the "fingerprint" of the medication. The FDA requires almost all over-the-counter and prescription drugs in the US to have a unique code. If you see a pill that is perfectly smooth with no markings, it is either a supplement, a foreign drug, or—most likely—a counterfeit. Authentic OxyContin will always have the milligram dosage clearly marked. For example, a 15mg tablet is grey and marked with "OP" and "15." A 30mg tablet is brown. A 60mg tablet is red. If the numbers don't match the colors established by the manufacturer, that's a massive red flag.
The Fentanyl Problem: Why Photos Can Be Lethal
We have to talk about the "M30s."
If you search for pictures of OxyContin pills, you will inevitably see small, light-blue round tablets with an "M" on one side and a "30" on the other. People call these "blues" or "percs." Here is the dangerous part: OxyContin does not come in a 30mg blue "M30" form. That specific imprint belongs to Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals' version of oxycodone, which is an immediate-release drug, not the extended-release OxyContin.
However, the DEA has issued repeated warnings that the vast majority of "M30" pills found on the street today are actually pressed fentanyl. They look almost identical to the real thing. Even experts can have trouble telling a "dirty" pill from a real one just by looking at a photo. The edges might be slightly more crumbly on a fake, or the blue color might be a tiny bit mottled, but you can't bet your life on a visual check.
Honestly, if you're looking at a photo of a blue pill and someone is calling it "OxyContin," they're wrong. It’s either oxycodone or, much more likely in 2026, a deadly dose of fentanyl pressed in a clandestine lab.
Physical Characteristics You Can't See in a Picture
Photos are two-dimensional, but pills are tactile.
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The "OP" OxyContin tablets are notoriously hard. You can't just break them with your fingernails. If you have a pill that feels chalky or crumbles easily, it isn't a post-2010 OxyContin. The coating is also specific. Real OxyContin has a professional, slick film coating that doesn't rub off on your hands. Fake pills often use cheap binders that leave a dusty residue.
- Weight: Pharmaceutical companies use high-precision presses. Every pill in a batch weighs exactly the same.
- Diameter: A 10mg pill is smaller than an 80mg pill.
- Density: Modern OP pills are dense and "plastic-y."
How to Verify a Pill Properly
Don't rely on a random forum or a shady "pill identifier" app that hasn't been updated since 2019. If you are trying to identify a pill from a picture, use professional-grade databases. The Drugs.com Pill Identifier or the National Library of Medicine’s Pillbox (though currently undergoing updates, its archives are solid) are the gold standards.
You should also look for the NDC (National Drug Code). If you have the original bottle, that 10-digit number is the only way to be 100% sure what was supposed to be in that container.
But what if you found a loose pill?
Take it to a pharmacist. Seriously. They aren't there to call the cops on you; they are there to provide health information. A pharmacist can look at the bevel of the edge, the depth of the imprint, and the specific hue of the dye to tell you if it's a legitimate pharmaceutical product. In an era where 7 out of 10 fake pills contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, "eye-balling it" is a relic of the past.
The Business of Lookalikes
The reason pictures of OxyContin pills are so searched for is because the "brand" of OxyContin carries a specific weight in the drug world. Even though generic oxycodone exists and is chemically similar, the "OC" or "OP" branding signifies a certain potency in the minds of users.
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Counterfeiters know this.
They buy pill presses from overseas, often through the dark web, and use dies that mimic the exact font of the "OP" and "OC" imprints. This isn't just a health crisis; it's a massive, illicit business model. They mimic the "trade dress"—the legal term for the look and feel of a product—to trick buyers into thinking they are getting a regulated product. This is why you’ll see "80s" that look perfectly green and perfectly round in photos, but they were made in a basement in Mexico or a garage in Florida.
Subtle Details Most People Miss
Look at the "O" in "OP." On a real OxyContin, the font is very specific. The lines are clean, and the depth of the stamp is consistent across the entire letter. On fakes, one side of the "O" might be deeper than the other because the press wasn't level.
Check the "gutter" or the "score line." Some oxycodone pills are "scored" (meaning they have a line down the middle to help you break them). Original OxyContin tablets are not scored. If you see a picture of an "OxyContin" pill with a line for breaking it in half, it’s a fake or a different medication entirely.
Actionable Steps for Identification
If you are currently holding a pill or looking at a photo and trying to make a decision, follow these steps:
- Check the Imprint Code: Go to a verified database like Drugs.com or WebMD’s pill identification tool. Enter the letters and numbers exactly as they appear.
- Match Color and Shape: If the database says a 20mg OxyContin should be pink and round, but yours is orange or oval, stop. It’s a fake.
- Inspect the Quality: Real pills have "crisp" edges. If the pill looks "soft," "fuzzy," or has bits flaking off, it’s a pressie.
- Use Fentanyl Test Strips: This is the only way to be sure. If the pill didn't come directly from a licensed US pharmacy, assume it contains fentanyl until proven otherwise. You can dissolve a tiny piece of the pill in water and use a strip to check.
- Consult a Professional: Take the pill or a high-resolution photo to a local pharmacist. They have the expertise to spot inconsistencies in the manufacturing that a layperson will miss.
Visual identification is a starting point, not a conclusion. With the sophistication of modern counterfeit operations, a photo is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Stay skeptical, use the databases, and never consume anything that hasn't come from a verified prescription bottle.
Next Steps for Safety:
Check the official DEA Image Gallery to see examples of seized counterfeit pills alongside the real versions they are meant to mimic. If you are struggling with opioid use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP for confidential, free, 24/7 information and treatment referrals.