Prescription drug abuse is all over the news across North America, and some drug companies have made efforts to contribute in a fight against this devastating epidemic. As a result a new wave of drug abuse is feared if generic oxycodone is sold in Canada in the coming months.
This announcement is not only affecting rehabilitation efforts but enforcement. In fact many police wonder how to keep these substances off the streets with even more of the drug being available for use.
Oxycodone vs. OxyNeo—The Canadian Debate
The problem with the drug originated in Canada. Purdue Pharmaceuticals stopped selling its popular drug Oxycontin (which contains oxycodone) in Canada several months ago, and instead introduced a new formulation of the drug.
This new formula, called OxyNeo, was created to provide the same pain relief without the risk of abuse. Conventional oxycodone pills are easily crushed for abusers to snort or inject the substance. (Doing so provides a stronger and more intense effect to set in than is created by oral ingestion of the drug.) Purdue prides itself in the creation of OxyNeo—a tamper-resistant opiate pill that cannot be crushed for misuse.
After it became nationally evident that Oxycontin (oxycodone) was responsible for a large-scale opiate epidemic, the drug was banned across Canada. OxyNeo was then presented as a safer alternative.
Despite bans, however, Oxycontin is still sold on the black market throughout the country. Sadly, it is estimated up to 50% of the population of many Canadian tribal reservations suffer with opiate addictions to prescriptions like Oxycontin. Canadian health experts now state that a new wave of drug abuse should be feared if generic oxycodone is sold in Canada. Come November, Purdue’s patent protection on Oxycontin expires and generic versions of the drug are expected to wreak havoc on those struggling with addiction nationwide.
Canadians Appeal to Health Minister
Canadians who share this worry should send their appeals to the Canadian Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq and request she reverse her decision not to ban generic oxycodone from being sold across Canada.
Provincial Health Minister for Ontario, Deb Matthews, wrote to fellow health ministers, “…We simply do not need easily-abused, long-acting oxycodone drugs to achieve better care.”
Prescription Substance Always Present Risks
No matter the tamper-resistant features of prescription pharmaceuticals, pain pills and other medications can be abused in multiple ways and present other risks:
Excesssive Ingestion
Especially in the case of youth abusing prescription drugs, excessive ingestion can be accidental or intentional. It may be that a teen gets his/her hands on some pills that were meant for someone with a larger body (hence calling for a larger dose). This can be very dangerous and, in extreme cases, even fatal.
Mixing Pills with Other Drugs and/or Alcohol
Those who are abusing pain medications like Vicodin, Oxycontin, OxyNeo or Percocet are often partying with other drugs (marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, alcohol, etc.) Combining other substances with prescription substances is highly risky and potentially life-threatening.
Formation of Physical Dependency
Over time, the body becomes physically dependent on opiate pain drugs (such as hydrocodone and oxycodone.) In the case of prolonged opiate pill consumption, this is unavoidable. Withdrawal symptoms will present themselves in someone who has taken these substances for a prolonged period of time. This physical dependency on opiate substances lays a firm foundation for a worsened condition of addiction.
Knowing this the problem can be handled on two levels. The first is through drug prevention so that one does not start taking oxycodone. Rehabilitation is the other solution; for those already addicted to the drug.
Narconon Arrowhead is offering more information on this growing problem and tips on how to solve it. Call 800-468-6933 for more information now.