Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jun 2001
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2001 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124

THE NEXT PUBLIC MENACE

People bent on artificial escapes from reality seem to have an endless 
ability to find new means. No sooner does the community familiarize itself 
with "ecstasy" than a new menace from a drug known as "OxyContin," or 
"hillbilly heroin," comes to town.

And, like the many other illegal drugs circulating underground, this one 
can cause a lot of harm, even death.

In parts of the Midwest, abuse of this drug is increasing at what experts 
say are unprecedented levels. Here in Utah, a 19-year-old Orem man recently 
died from the drug, and law-enforcement officials say people should brace 
for more. When abused, this drug is as addictive as heroin. In fact, the 
popular wisdom is that users would fight through bags of heroin to get to 
the stuff.

Clearly, parents, spouses - and virtually everyone else in society - 
shouldn't be complacent and think they understand all the drug-abuse 
dangers that lurk in modern society. They need to familiarize themselves 
with everything on the streets and insist that law enforcement has the 
tools to deal with the problems. That is especially true with this one.

Why? Because its users become so desperate for the drug they will 
burglarize, steal, even kill to obtain it. And because OxyContin is a 
prescription drug that can be used legally by cancer patients and others 
who are in great pain. In a recent feature story in the Cincinnati 
Enquirer, a woman who uses the drug through a legal prescription wisely 
declined to give her last name. She knew that abusers would seek her out 
and burglarize her home if they thought they could get to the pills.

Like many new drugs, OxyContin serves a useful purpose. In pill form, it 
releases a controlled dose of effective pain relief that allows people with 
injuries, serious diseases or other chronic ailments to function normally. 
But abusers will crush the pills and find ways to circumvent the 
time-release benefits so that an entire 12-hour dose enters their 
bloodstream at once.

Last year alone, 19 people died from overdoses in Pike County, Ky., alone. 
Multiple deaths were reported in many other counties, as well. Now, as this 
newspaper reported recently, Utah has seen the beginning of the problem.

In many ways, ecstasy is easier to deal with than OxyContin. The people who 
use ecstasy are fairly easy to track. They tend to be young adults who 
attend underground parties known as "raves." OxyContin abusers, on the 
other hand, can be young or old, rich or poor. The only thing they have in 
common is a desperate need for more of the drug and a desire to avoid a 
withdrawal that some have described as the worst flu ever.

Utah fell behind the curve when the methamphetamine craze hit. The Wasatch 
Front became one of the nation's leaders in meth labs per capita. Law 
enforcement can't afford to fall behind on this one. For that not to 
happen, they will need the help of everyone.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens