Pubdate: Mon, 17 Nov 2008
Source: Amherst Daily News (CN NS)
Copyright: Amherst Daily News 2008
Contact:  http://www.amherstdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3379
Author: Darrell Cole

ADDICTION AWARENESS WEEK BEGINS TODAY

AMHERST - OxyContin might soon replace alcohol as the addiction of 
choice if more awareness isn't raised about the addictive powers of 
this painkiller.

This week is Addiction Awareness Week in Cumberland County and the 
local addiction services offices is hosting a film festival and 
special showings of "Cottonland" to spread the message about the 
dangers of drug addiction.

"We're really excited about this film festival and being able to show 
'Cottonland'," Sandi Partridge of Addiction Services said. "It's a 
great way to get the message out."

Tonight, Addiction Services will be hosting a movie night at Amherst 
Regional High School while on Tuesday, "Cottonland" will be showed to 
students at Parrsboro Regional High during the afternoon and to the 
community at large that evening at the community band hall.

The show's director, Nance Ackerman, will also be on hand to lead a 
discussion on the dangers of drug abuse and addiction.

On Wednesday, Eddie Buchanan, the co-director of "Cottonland" and 
whose experience with OxyContin was the inspiration for the film, 
will appear at a showing of the movie at Tantramar Theatre at 7 p.m.

Ackerman, who first directed a film about the crisis that followed 
the closure of Cape Breton's coal mines, returned to Glace Bay to 
shoot "Cottonland" with the collaboration of recovering addict Buchanan.

The film, part of the National Film Board of Canada collection, 
doesn't absolve the addict of responsibility, but it describes the 
conditions in which the addict thrives. It also reminds people of the 
spiral of social ills that follow addition including increased crime 
and collapsing families.

OxyContin is a time-released pain medication developed in 1995 for 
people needing around-the-clock pain relief. Taken as prescribed, 
OxyContin is safe, but when abused it can be very dangerous and addictive.

Problems begin when people look for rush by crushing or chewing the 
pill getting around the slow release habits of the drug so that the 
oxycodone is released all at once.

"OxyContin is an issue here, but it's still hidden," he said. 
"Alcohol is still No. 1 and it probably always will be, but we want 
to raise awareness about this drug."

Addiction Awareness Week continues Thursday with a free skate at the 
Richard Calder Arena in Springhill from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Addiction Services is also working with the Amherst Lions Club to 
host Racing Against Drugs events at West Highlands Elementary and 
Spring Street Academy.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart