Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC) Copyright: 2005, BC Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948 Author: Beth Blackburn Note: Const. Beth Blackburn is with RCMP Drug Awareness Service. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OFTEN ABUSED Prescribed by your doctor, narcotics are the most used and abused medicines today. Narcotics are prescribed to alleviate pain. Some narcotics are more powerful than others. For example, codeine is prescribed for mild pain and morphine is prescribed for severe pain. Opioids (prescription narcotics) act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract. When these drugs attach to certain opioid receptors they can block the transmission of pain messages to the brain. In addition, opioids can produce drowsiness, cause constipation, and depending upon the amount of drug taken, depress respiration. Opioid drugs also can cause euphoria by affecting the brain regions that mediate what we perceive as pleasure. Prescription narcotics can also be addictive, especially if not used under the supervision of a doctor. From a street level perspective if these drugs are taken as prescribed and not in conjunction with other substance such as depressants (alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, anesthetics, antihistamines) then the user does not become severely impaired. The combination of prescription narcotics and depressants causes respiratory depression and could be fatal. The abuse of Tylenol and codeine found in T3s is the most common on the streets today for pain relief. Other prescription narcotics such as Darvocet, Darvon, Vicodin, Percocet, Percodan and oxycodone follow this abuse. Oxycodone (oxycontin) is a narcotic prescribed to relieve pain that is twice as potent as morphine. There are many variations of oxycodone products on the market but of those, OxyContin, Percocet and Percodan are used and abused most frequently. OxyContin is reportedly crushed (to break down the timed-release component) and then snorted or injected. Used a substitute for heroin, abusers use the drug to relieve pain, alleviate withdrawal symptoms and gain euphoric effects typically associated with use of the drug. OxyContin generally sells for $5 to $80 per tablet depending on the dose and supply and demand on the streets. It is reported that Eastern Canada has an abuse problem with this drug. Signs of OxyCodin use include nausea, drowsiness, impaired coordination, weakness, confusion, contracted pupils and clammy skin. Other general effects include muscle relaxation, lowered blood pressure, lowered heart rate and respiratory rate. Remember just because it is doctor-prescribed does not imply that it will not be misused or abused by itself or with other substances that in combination are harmful and potentially fatal. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek