What's a Perc 30?

A “Perc 30” is a street name for a 30 mg oxycodone tablet. No pharmaceutical company makes a product by that name: the term borrows from the brand Percocet, but legitimate Percocet never contains more than 10 mg of oxycodone, and most pills sold as “Perc 30s” today are counterfeit and pressed with fentanyl.

The pharmaceutical name for the real pill is oxycodone 30 mg immediate-release (often shortened to “Oxy 30” in clinical settings). Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid, made in a laboratory from thebaine, a compound found in the opium poppy. That places it between opiates such as morphine and codeine, which come directly from the poppy, and fully synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which are built entirely in a lab. It is prescribed for severe pain and, in some cases, chronic pain that has not responded to other treatment.

There is a critical distinction to be made: Percocet contains both oxycodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol). A “Perc 30” generally refers to a pill containing 30 milligrams of oxycodone with no acetaminophen.

The Fentanyl Danger

Because legitimate pharmaceutical companies do not manufacture a pill called “Perc 30,” pills sold on the street under that name are frequently counterfeit. These pressed pills often contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. This makes “Perc 30s” bought illicitly exceptionally dangerous¹ and a leading cause of overdose deaths. The counterfeit problem is covered in more detail below.

Street Names and Common Terminology

Oxycodone is sold under various pharmaceutical brand names and has accumulated numerous street names. The medical formulations include OxyContin (extended-release), Roxicodone (immediate-release), Longtec, Shortec, and OxyPro. When combined with acetaminophen, it’s marketed as Percocet.

Street terminology for oxycodone varies widely. “Perc” or “Perc 30” specifically refers to 30mg oxycodone tablets, despite the name’s origin from Percocet. The same tablet is also called “blues,” “M30s,” “30s,” or “dirty 30s,” names that come from its appearance and imprint (covered in the next section). Other common slang includes “Roxy” (from Roxicodone), “OC” (from OxyContin), “Ox,” and “kicker.”

OxyContin earned the nickname “hillbilly heroin” during the opioid crisis, particularly in rural Appalachian communities where abuse became widespread. This term reflects the drug’s devastating impact on these regions.

Understanding these street names is important for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals. When someone references these terms, they’re often discussing oxycodone in an illicit context, potentially indicating substance abuse concerns that require intervention and professional treatment.

What Does a Perc 30 Look Like?

The pill most people mean when they say “Perc 30” is the M30: a small, round, light blue tablet with a boxed “M” on one side and “30” on the other, the imprint Mallinckrodt uses for its generic 30 mg immediate-release oxycodone. Other legitimate 30 mg oxycodone tablets carry different imprints (the A 215 is another well-known example), but the blue M30 is the one counterfeiters have copied most heavily.

That is where the street names come from. “Blues,” “blue pills,” “M30s,” “30s,” and “dirty 30s” all refer to this tablet or to fakes of it. “Mexi blues” or “Mexican oxy” refers to counterfeit M30s pressed by cartels in Mexico and smuggled into the United States, most of which contain fentanyl rather than oxycodone.

The important point for families is that you cannot tell a real M30 from a fake one by looking at it. Modern counterfeits copy the color, size, and imprint closely enough that law enforcement relies on lab testing rather than appearance. Any blue “30” that did not come from a pharmacy in a labeled bottle should be assumed to be counterfeit.

Counterfeit Perc 30s and Fentanyl

Very few of the pills sold as “Perc 30s” today are diverted pharmacy stock. Most are counterfeit prescription pills pressed illegally and made to look like the M30, and the active ingredient is usually fentanyl or a fentanyl analog rather than oxycodone. Because the pills are pressed in makeshift operations rather than pharmaceutical facilities, the dose varies from one tablet to the next. Two pills from the same bag can contain very different amounts, which is why overdoses from counterfeit pills are so unpredictable.

The DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign exists largely because of this pill. DEA lab testing of seized counterfeit pills has repeatedly found that a majority contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. Testing has also turned up methamphetamine, xylazine, and benzodiazepines in pills sold as oxycodone, the same adulterants found in counterfeit Xanax bars. Public health agencies now treat fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills as a distinct crisis from prescription opioid misuse.

Counterfeit pills are no longer sold only on the street. Social media apps and online marketplaces have become common sources, particularly for teenagers and young adults who believe they are buying a prescription medication. Many overdose deaths in this age group involve a single pill the person thought was oxycodone.

Fentanyl test strips can detect the presence of fentanyl in a crushed pill and are legal in New York. They do not measure how much fentanyl is present, and because fentanyl is not mixed evenly through a pressed pill, a sample can test negative while the rest of the tablet contains a lethal amount. A negative result is not a guarantee of safety. Anyone using pills from an unverified source should never use alone and should keep naloxone within reach.

Effects on the Body

Perc 30s (30mg oxycodone) work by binding to opioid receptors² in the brain and spinal cord, blocking pain signals and producing pain relief. While effective for managing severe and chronic pain, oxycodone affects multiple body systems beyond its intended use.

Common effects include sedation, drowsiness, and cough suppression. The drug also impacts the gastrointestinal tract, frequently causing constipation, one of the most persistent side effects. Users may experience pupillary constriction (pinpoint pupils), dry mouth, and flushing.

More serious effects include respiratory depression, where breathing becomes dangerously slow or shallow. This poses the greatest risk during overdose. Other concerning reactions include extreme drowsiness, difficulties swallowing or breathing, seizures, irregular heartbeat, and mood changes.

The euphoric “high” that Perc 30s produce occurs when the drug triggers the release of endorphins in the brain, creating intense feelings of well-being. This pleasurable effect is what makes oxycodone habit-forming, even when use begins with a legitimate prescription.

Oxycodone Side Effects

Oxycodone has several side effects, including the following:

• Mood changes
• Headache
• Flushing
• Drowsiness
• Abdominal pain
• Dry mouth
• Sedation

There are also serious side effects³, and they include the following:

• Lightheadedness when moving around
• Extreme drowsiness
• Seizures
• Difficulties swallowing or breathing
• Hoarseness
• Swelling in the lower legs, ankles, feet, hands, eyes, lips, tongue, throat, or face
• Rash
• Itching
• Hives
• Chest pain
• Low libido
• Irregular periods
• Sexual dysfunction
• Dizziness, weakness, decreased appetite, vomiting, and nausea
• Diarrhea or constipation, loss of coordination, severe muscle twitching or stiffness, shivering, rapid heartbeat, confusion, sweating, fever, hallucinations, and agitation
• Changes in heartbeat
• Respiratory depression

Perc 30 Overdose: Warning Signs and What to Do

An opioid overdose from a Perc 30 looks the same whether the pill contained oxycodone, fentanyl, or both. Fentanyl simply makes it happen faster and at a smaller dose. Warning signs of an opioid overdose include:

• Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
• Unresponsiveness, or inability to wake the person by shouting or rubbing the breastbone
• Pinpoint pupils
• Blue or gray lips and fingernails
• Gurgling, snoring, or choking sounds
• Limp body
• Pale, cold, or clammy skin

If you see these signs, act immediately:

1. Call 911. Do not wait to see if the person improves. New York’s 911 Good Samaritan Law protects both the caller and the person overdosing from most drug possession charges when someone calls for emergency help.
2. Give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. Spray one dose into one nostril. If the person has not responded within two to three minutes, give a second dose. Naloxone is available without a prescription at pharmacies across Long Island, cannot harm someone who is not overdosing, and can restore breathing within minutes. Fentanyl overdoses sometimes require more than one dose.
3. Provide rescue breathing if you are trained, since lack of oxygen is what causes brain damage and death in an opioid overdose.
4. Roll the person onto their side (the recovery position) so they cannot choke if they vomit.
5. Stay until paramedics arrive. Naloxone wears off in 30 to 90 minutes, and the person can slip back into overdose. Tell responders what was taken if you know.

Never leave someone alone to “sleep it off.” What looks like deep sleep may be a fatal overdose. Families of anyone who uses opioids, prescribed or not, should keep naloxone in the home and know how to use it.

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Physical dependence can form in as little as two weeks of regular use. Once dependent, withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 6 to 30 hours after the last dose. For this reason, treatment for Perc 30 addiction begins with medical detox, where staff monitor the person 24 hours a day and treat symptoms as they appear.

Opioid withdrawal symptoms include the following:

• Yawning
• Sweating
• Runny nose
• Insomnia
• Increased tearing
• Muscle aches
• Anxiety
• Agitation

Withdrawal symptoms in the later stages include the following:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Goosebumps
• Dilated pupils
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramping

These symptoms are extremely uncomfortable for many people, so medical detox staff administer medications to relieve them. Heart rate and blood pressure can also rise or fall to dangerous levels during withdrawal, which is why supervised detox is safer than quitting at home.

Withdrawal can also worsen existing medical or mental health conditions. With medication and monitoring, most people get through the withdrawal process safely and with far less discomfort than they expect.

Detox on its own is not treatment. It clears the drug from the body so that therapy for the psychological side of opioid use disorder can begin. Without that first step, treatment for a substance use disorder has a much lower chance of leading to sobriety over the long term.

How Does Opioid Addiction Occur?

Opioid addiction, clinically called opioid use disorder, can develop in anyone, though individual risk factors vary. While many people take opioids as prescribed without developing addiction, the risk increases with prolonged use, higher doses, and certain genetic or environmental factors. Unfortunately, opioid overdoses remain a leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

When you first take opioids, they produce a powerful euphoric effect. Over time, this feeling becomes difficult to resist, cravings develop, and some individuals find they cannot function comfortably without the drug.

This occurs because opioids bind to specific opioid receptors throughout the brain, spinal cord, and body. Rather than releasing endorphins, opioids mimic these natural pain-relieving chemicals, activating reward pathways in the brain. This triggers a flood of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, creating intense feelings of well-being and euphoria.

With continued use, the brain adapts to the presence of opioids by reducing its natural production of these neurochemicals and decreasing receptor sensitivity. This neuroadaptation means the same dose no longer produces the same effect, a condition called “tolerance.”

To achieve the desired feelings, users must take increasingly larger doses. However, physicians recognize opioid addiction risks and have become more cautious with prescriptions and refills. When legitimate prescriptions become unavailable, some patients turn to street opioids like Perc 30s or heroin, significantly increasing overdose risk.

Escalating Perc 30 doses heightens both addiction severity and overdose danger. Abruptly stopping opioids triggers severe withdrawal symptoms that make quitting extremely difficult without professional support. If you’re ready to stop using opioids, medically supervised treatment at a specialized facility offers the safest, most effective path to recovery.

Substance Use Treatment

Treatment for opioid use disorder begins with medical detox and continues in a structured program afterward. For many people it also includes medication. The main options are described below.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy. Three medications are approved for opioid use disorder: buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade), which eases cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing a strong high; methadone, a long-acting opioid dispensed through licensed programs; and naltrexone (Vivitrol), which blocks opioid receptors so that using no longer produces an effect. Research consistently shows that people on MAT are less likely to relapse and less likely to die of an overdose than people who complete detox alone. Anyone entering treatment for Perc 30 addiction should ask whether the program offers or coordinates MAT.

The Inpatient Program

An inpatient program is an excellent option for you or your loved one if you are entering treatment for the first time. If you have been experiencing substance use disorder for several years, the inpatient program is also a good option for you. In inpatient rehab, you will live at the facility so that you can put all of your efforts into overcoming your addiction.

It is also the right choice for you or your loved one if you do not have a supportive environment to return to after the detoxification process is over. While you are at the facility, you will have a structured environment that offers you support 24 hours a day. Each day, you will join the others in group therapy, and meet with a therapist in individual therapy sessions.

This is where you will receive treatment with the behavioral therapies that are used to successfully treat those with substance use disorders. These programs may last for 30 days, but you may also decide to enter into a program that lasts longer. A professional will help you determine the type of treatment that is best for you or your loved one when you first arrive at the treatment center.

The Outpatient Program

Treatment facilities may also have an outpatient program, and it is most appropriate for you or your loved one if you need a place to go after your inpatient program ends. You will be able to live at home if this is a safe place for you, and you will visit the facility for 10 to 12 hours every week.

You will continue to receive the beneficial group therapy and individual therapy you had in inpatient treatment. Most importantly, you will learn how to live outside of a facility without resorting to substance use.

An outpatient program is an option for you or your loved one if your addiction is not very severe. It is also an excellent program for you if you are searching for a way to continue your treatment. Some programs last as long as one year, but you can also choose a three-month program.

Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient treatment, the rehabilitation process will have long-lasting, positive consequences for you or your loved one. The medical community now knows that addiction is a chronic illness and that it needs to be treated as such.

As you obtain treatment from professionals over the long term, support groups, counseling, and relapse prevention planning will help you or your loved one avoid falling back into drug use. Contact a drug treatment center and get help for yourself or your loved one today.

Contact Long Island Interventions Today

If you’re concerned about a loved one with a substance use disorder, whether it involves Perc 30s, oxy, or other prescription medications, do not wait for an opioid overdose to happen. With counterfeit pills in circulation, the first overdose is often the last.

There’s a team of highly trained healthcare professionals ready to help your loved one overcome substance abuse. Here at Long Island Interventions, we aim for your loved one to have a second chance at living a better and happier life. It all starts with one phone call. Contact us today.

FAQs

Citations

1. https://www.dea.gov/onepill ↩︎
2. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids ↩︎
3. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682132.html ↩︎

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Written by: The Long Island Interventions Editorial Team

Published on: January 26, 2022
Updated on: September 24, 2026