What parents needs to know about OxyContin
by Michelle Minnoch

Parents are familiar with teaching their children about the dangers of drugs. Through reading and watching the news, parents learn as well, as drugs like Ecstasy become more available to their children. Parents have to educate themselves before they can educate their teen. Now, OxyContin should be added to their drug-knowledge language.

OxyContin, a narcotic, is used to relieve pain caused from arthritis, back pain and cancer. Linked to dependence and addiction, OxyContin's main ingredient is oxycodone. Using a time release formula to disperse the drug throughout the system over gradual time, OxyContin contains a greater amount of oxycodone than most drugs.

OxyContin is becoming more available on the street to kids, for sale from others, and its names include o.c., oxy and oxycotton. In the wrong hands, this drug can be deadly.

"When pharmacies are broken into, OxyContin is the first thing they take," said Rob Shannon, Pharmacy owner of Shoppers Drug Mart in Alcona.

OxyContin has been ringing alarm bells in both Canada and the United States for the past couple of years. After exploring the abuse of the drug, particularly in Atlantic Canada, Health Canada has established federal, provincial and territorial committees to discuss the issues of narcotics, controlled substances, alcohol abuse, and prescription drugs.

Shannon said the drug is prescribed for ongoing pain and it can become extremely addictive. When it is prescribed for pain, OxyContin has a purpose.

"These tablets work over a 12 hour period," said Shannon. "It's a long acting drug."

OxyContin symptoms of overdose

slow breathing (less than 10 breaths a minute is serious trouble) small, pinpoint pupils

confusion

being tired, nodding off, passing out dizziness

weakness

apathy (they don't care about anything) cold and clammy skin nausea

vomiting

seizures

The drug becomes deadly when bought and abused for an "easy high". There have been cases of

people crushing, chewing, inhaling, injecting and snorting the drug. Sometimes referred to as "Hillbilly Heroin", speeding up the time release process of the drug produces a heroin-like effect of euphoria.

"The drug was not meant to be used that way," said Shannon. "It's deadly."

On January 10, 2005, CTV News ran a story about Kyle Blythe from London, ON. After suffering from tendonitis in his wrist, his doctor prescribed him OxyContin. When he ran out of his prescription, he easily found the drug on the street. He ended up spending over $100,000 on his addiction, and had to seek professional help.

In 2003, 101 people in Ontario died with oxycodone in their systems. Although the ingredient is found in other drugs, Ontario's

Chief Coroner Dr. Barry McLellan stated most of those who died with oxycodone in their systems, were as a result of an accident or suicide.

American psychiatrist Donald Hauser, medical director of The Right Step, a program to help those addicted, stated there has been a 26 per cent rise in the teenage abuse of OxyContin since 2002.

Editor's note: While looking up information about the drug, I found two websites where OxyContin could be purchased, up to 250 pills at a time. All I had to do was enter my credit card number and the pills were mine. Apparently in Washington, DC, prices for OxyContin range from fifty cents to one dollar per milligram.