Pubdate: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 Source: Chattanooga Times & Free Press (TN) Copyright: 2001 Chattanooga Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.timesfreepress.com/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992 Author: Stump Martin OXYCONTIN CONFIRMED CAUSE OF TEEN'S DEATH LaFAYETTE, Ga. -- An acute overdose of the drug OxyContin was confirmed by authorities as the cause of death of a 15-year-old Covington, Ga., boy who died here Tuesday. The Georgia State Crime Lab released its findings on Thursday. The drug has been on the market since 1996 and is widely prescribed for victims of chronic, severe pain from problems such as cancer and back trouble. The youth was discovered unconscious at the home of his mother's friend at 3623 East Highway 136 at 3:58 p.m. Tuesday. Hutcheson Medical Center paramedics found the youth in cardiac arrest, Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said. The victim was transported to Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe, where he was pronounced dead. Sheriff Wilson said his office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are still investigating the boy's death. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens