sheila damarajin has the story. >> reporter: zohydro launched this month. it's stirring up a potent controversy. marketed by a small company named zojenics its active ingredient is hydrocodone like vicodin. unlike vicodin which is mixed with acetaminophen, this is higher hydrocodone. experts say it's one of the positives of the drug. >> the big benefit you don't have tylenol attached to it. you avoid the possibility of liver failure which elderly would be prone to taking this medication. >> reporter: benefits aside, zohydro has been controversy from the get-go the fda approved it against the advice of its own advisory panel, something that only happens 10 to 15% of the time. since its approval, critics have been calling for the fda to reverse its decision. >> chief concern about zohydro among groups opposed to its release is the fact that the capsule can be easily crushed. and the capsule contains a 50 milligram dose of hydrocodone. that's ten times more hydrocodone than in a regular strength vicodin. that makes that capsule especially lethal. >> reporter: