The New Version of Heroin
There is a significant increase in the illegal use on oxycontin by teenagers. I have talked to six kids this week who have started to try this drug and have been dealing with several who have become addicted to it and are having a huge problem getting off it. Generally they have no idea what it is other than it can get them high. They are always amazed when I explain o them that it is essentially the same as heroin. Because they are ingesting it orally or snorting it they somehow think that it is OK. Generally they are using it with other drugs such as alcohol, this significantly increases the possibility of overdose. If you are a teen read this, if you are a parent read this and talk to your kids.
OxyContin is an opioid agonist first introduced in 1995. It is a Schedule 11 controlled drug used in the treatment of severe pain disorders. OxyContin is a long acting formulation of oxycodone, the medication's active ingredient. Today, various formulations of oxycontin are available. The drug is a powerful pain killer and widely used in clinical medicine. However, because of its mood altering effects, Oxycontin, like morphine, can be abused and unlawful possession may be subject to criminal prosecution. Over the past decade, OxyContin has become a popular drug and its mood altering effects has led to a significant increase in illicit usage. Besides pain, oxycontin can decrease anxiety, cause euphoria, mental relaxation, respiratory depression, constipation, meiosis (papillary constriction) and suppression of cough. Like all opioid analgesics, with increasing doses there is increasing pain relief. With oxycontin, like morphine, there is no definite maximum dose; the upper limit of pain control is controlled by side effects. The most dangerous side effect is respiratory depression. The precise mechanism of oxycontin is unknown. However, it may interact with opioid receptors located in the brain and spinal cord. OxyContin can be used to treat moderate to severe pain associated with: · Trauma · Injuries · Muscle pain · Dislocations · Fractures · Neuralgia · Arthritis · Lower back pain · Pain associated with cancer Due to the potency of oxycontin and potentially serious side effects, the drug has to be monitored. Treatment should be continuously assessed and adjusted based upon the patient's own reports of pain and side effects and the physician’s clinical judgment. Since the drug is a controlled substance, a prescription is required to obtain it.
Today, it is the most frequently prescribed opioid pain killer in North America. OxyContin tablets are available as a controlled-release oral formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride and indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, daily analgesia is needed for a long period of time. The drug is always administered orally. The controlled-release product has a long duration of action (8-12 hours). It is recommended that OxyContin not be used for sporadic pain relief. OxyContin tablets should be swallowed whole. It is recommended that the tablets not be broken, chewed or crushed, otherwise a rapid release of the drug can occur and lead to severe side effects. The drug should always be started at the lowest dose in patients who have never been on opioids before or in those patients who are receiving concurrent treatment with muscle relaxants, sedatives, or other CNS depressants. Concomitant analgesia can be provided with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize side effects. Patients should not receive any other type of opioid drugs while on Oxycontin. Since the introduction of OxyContin in 1995, there has been a dramatic increase in abuse of this narcotic. Unlike hydrocodone and its derivatives, whose potential for abuse is limited by the presence of aspirin and paracetamol, OxyContin contains only oxycodone. This is an easy drug to abuse by simply crushing the tablet in which the abuser will then ingest, inject, inhale or place rectally. The drug can have serious side effects when injected as it has a prolonged extended action. Oxycontin is frequently made more available by "doctor shopping," where people, who do not have a legitimate illness, repeatedly visit many doctors to acquire large amounts of controlled substances. Recent reports indicate that non-medical use of Oxycontin is relatively high among teenagers.
The increased misuse of the drug has led to numerous emergency admissions and even deaths. Many States have introduced legislation to decrease the illegal use of Oxycontin. Despite all the increased efforts by authorities, the illicit use of Oxycontin is at an all-time high. Over the last decade the increased illicit use of oxycontin has led to the manufacture of “fake” oxycontin pills all over North America.
Sudden stoppage of oxycontin can result in serious withdrawal symptoms. Some of the characters of withdrawal syndrome may include: · Restlessness · Anxiety · Yawning · Perspiration · Chills Other symptoms that might also develop include: · Irritability · Vague pain · Weakness · Abdominal cramps · Insomnia · Nausea · Anorexia · Vomiting · Diarrhea · Increased blood pressure · Increased respiratory rate · Increased heart rate
Both physicians and pharmacies now maintain careful record-keeping of prescribing information including quantity, frequency, and renewal requests. In Saskatchewan Pharmacies use the PIP program. Adequate evaluation of the patient, proper prescribing practices, frequent assessment of pain, proper dispensing and storage are recommended steps that may help limit the abuse of OxyContin.
Respiratory depression is a severe complication of oxycontin. Respiratory depression is a cause of concern in elderly or debilitated patients and usually follows after the use of large initial doses in non-tolerant patients or when other opioids are given concurrently. In the community the majority of OxyContin-related deaths have occurred in people who were ingesting large quantities of oxycontin in combination with either alcohol or benzodiazepines. Oxycontin should be used with extreme caution in patients with significant lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or pre-existing respiratory depression. In such patients, even usual therapeutic doses of oxycontin may suppress the respiratory drive to the point of arrest. Like other opioid narcotics, oxycontin can be fatal at high doses or when combined with other brain depressants such as alcohol.
