A process for preparing oxycodone hydrochloride, said process comprising hydrogenating 14-hydroxycodeinone in an alcoholic solvent and hydrochloric acid to form oxycodone hydrochloride, wherein (a) the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a heterogeneous platinum group metal (PGM) catalyst and hydrogen gas, (b) the hydrogenation is carried out at one or more temperatures greater than ambient temperature in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen gas, wherein the solution of 14-hydroxycodeinone and hydrochloric acid is heated to temperature before it is exposed to the hydrogen gas, (c) the oxycodone hydrochloride comprises 6a-oxycodol in an amount