A 27-year-old Wilmington man received a five-year prison term Thursday for local trafficking in OxyContin, a prescription painkiller that prosecutors say sells for $50 a pill on the street.

Bruce J. “BJ” Rheinscheld was sentenced for his convictions on two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, both felonies of the third degree. The five-year length of imprisonment, which is the result of consecutive two- and three-year terms, is due in part to Rheinscheld’s “significant previous history of criminal activity,” Clinton County Common Pleas Court Judge John W. Rudduck wrote in a court document.

Aggravated trafficking means selling in greater quantities.

As a juvenile, Rheinscheld was adjudicated a delinquent child, according to Rudduck’s written judgment entry.

As an adult, Rheinscheld was convicted in three felony cases, two in Clinton County and one in Highland County, before the current case.

Prior to his previous imprisonment, Rheinscheld completed a community-based program, through the STAR Community Justice Center, “and yet continued to violate the law,” Rudduck wrote.

In addition to the five-year prison sentence, the judge ordered Rheinscheld to make restitution of $1,180 for “buy money” used in the undercover operation that led to his arrest. He also must pay $375 in restitution for lab fees incurred by law enforcement in its investigation.

Credit was given for 98 days in jail as of the sentencing day Thursday.

OxyContin is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, lower back pain and pain associated with cancer, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

OxyContin contains oxycodone as an active ingredient. As with most opiates, oxycodone abuse can lead to dependence and tolerance, according to the DEA.

OxyContin was introduced in 1996, and is commonly known on the street as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton, hillbilly heroin and kicker.

Prescription pain relievers are new drug users’ drug of choice, more than marijuana or cocaine, according to the DEA.

Opioid painkillers now cause more drug overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined, according to the DEA.

Forty percent of teens and an almost equal percentage of their parents think abusing prescription painkillers is safer than abusing what they regard as “street” drugs, according to the DEA.

Rheinscheld formerly resided on the 300 block of West Vine Street in Wilmington.