FDA approves OxyContin for some pediatric use

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of OxyContin for children ages 11 to 16 who are suffering from severe, long-term pain.

The FDA says the same health warnings that apply to adults will apply to children, including the warning to not combine it with other sedatives.

A 27-year-old East Islip woman who identified herself as Justine told News 12 that she struggled with heroin and pain pill addiction for 10 years. She says she was shocked to hear that such a powerful painkiller was approved for children.

"It's all an opiate and it's poison going into our children's bodies," says Justine. "And the drug is so strong and has you in such a grip, it's hard to come back from that."

As a condition of the approval, the FDA is requiring the drugmaker, Purdue Pharma, to conduct a follow-up study examining rates of injury and overdose in patients ages 11 to 17. The final study is due April 2019.