Pubdate: Sat, 09 Nov 2002
Source: Gadsden Times, The (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Gadsden Times
Contact:  http://www.gadsdentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1203
Author: Lisa Rogers

FIVE ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TREATED FOR OXYCONTIN OVERDOSE

ALEXANDRIA - Five freshmen girls were treated for a possible overdose after 
taking the prescription drug OxyContin at Alexandria High School Friday 
afternoon.

One of the 14-year-old girls apparently brought the drug to school and was 
"handing it out like candy," said Jason Murray, commander of the Calhoun 
County Drug Task Force.

Two of the girls became sick at school and an ambulance was called, Murray 
said. Before the ambulance arrived, a third girl became sick and all three 
were taken to local hospitals by ambulance, he said. Two other girls were 
taken to the hospital by their parents, Murray said.

Two other girls were given pills, but told investigators the pills were 
flushed down the toilet and not taken. Those girls were not taken to the 
hospital immediately, but their parents were advised to watch them closely 
for sickness.

It is believed each girl took two, 40-mg pills.

Investigators believe the pills were swallowed, but it still is unclear how 
the two who became the sickest ingested the pills, Murray said.

OxyContin is a prescription pain killer heralded for providing major 
breakthroughs in pain relief, but has been linked to several deaths after 
the pill's time-release coating was destroyed and the entire 12-hour dosage 
was taken all at once. In most of the overdose deaths, the pill's coating 
was destroyed and the pill was heated and either injected or snorted.

Another student told authorities she did not take the pills and threw them 
in the trash. Pills were found in the trash, corroborating her story, 
Murray said.

Investigators were trying to determine late Friday where the girl who 
supplied the pills got them, Murray said.

The pills were in the clear cellophane of a cigarette pack and heat-sealed, 
leading investigators to believe the pills were packaged to be distributed 
and not pills the girl brought from someone's prescription at home, Murray 
said.

OxyContin was a major newsmaker last year when several deaths were linked 
to the drug, but has not been on the forefront as much lately.

Agents in Calhoun County, however, continue to make OxyContin arrests, 
Murray said.

Two major OxyContin suppliers in the Alexandria area were arrested recently 
and charged with trafficking, he said.

Five other arrests for trafficking in the drug were reported recently in 
Calhoun County, Murray said.

More recently, crystal methamphetamine labs have been in the forefront, 
Murray said.

"OxyContin seems to take a back seat and then something like this brings 
everybody back to reality," he said. "It's definitely still out there."
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