Which drug is typically abused by being crushed and injected?

Oxycodone is commonly abused by being crushed and injected, primarily because it is an opioid medication that can produce intense euphoric effects when administered through methods that bypass the body's typical pathways, such as inhalation or injection. When users crush oxycodone pills, they break down the time-release mechanism that many formulations have, allowing the drug to act more rapidly and powerfully in the bloodstream, leading to a heightened sensation of euphoria. This method of abuse poses significant health risks, including the potential for respiratory depression and overdose.

Other drugs mentioned, such as hydrocodone, while also being an opioid, is less frequently injected and more often abused in oral forms. Cocaine, although it can be injected, is typically associated with snorting or freebasing rather than being crushed from a pill. Anabolic steroids can be injected but are usually used in different forms, such as intramuscular injections of liquids, rather than crushing and injecting pills. Thus, oxycodone stands out as the substance most often abused through the method of crushing and injecting.