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.
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MAP posted-by: Derek