Over nine years ago some ordinary people and some law enforcement individuals saw the dangers of OxyContin abuse first hand. They suspected this drug abuse to be different than any other drug addiction and abuse they had seen before. Never the less they refused to call it an epidemic and even under-estimated the devastating effect of the new phenomenon.
To get a glimpse of their belief here is the excerpt of an article about OxyContin being most common abused drug on the streets of Western Pennsylvania
“Authorities expect to be fighting OxyContin abuse for at least another six to 12 months. But as the buzz begins about the next hot street drug, it's liable to just fade away.”
"OxyContin is just fashionable right now. It's sort of a fad drug. Predictions are that in a year or two the fad will pass and we'll have to worry about something else," said Leon Rodriguez, first assistant U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh.
As we all know that didn’t happen and today, nine years later, OxyContin is still a formidable drug addiction that destroys lives, families and properties.
Some were wondering whether enough emphasis and resources is being poured in that fight against drug abuse.
By Jonathan D. Silver, the writer of the article wrote: “Although Pennsylvania has joined Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia on the short list of states with widespread OxyContin problems, no one is calling it an epidemic.”
He again writes in that article “with startling speed and sometimes deadly consequences, the prescription painkiller OxyContin has shifted from sensation to scourge in Western Pennsylvania.”
"It just took off overnight," said Rod Miller, the chief detective in the Cambria County district attorney's office and a task force supervisor.
The users of OxyContin were reported to range from teens to 70 year old addicts. They were from Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, from the private schools to low income neighborhoods.
In Johnstown, there were reports of pharmacy break-ins and strong-arm robberies where only OxyContin is taken. Addiction to OxyContin was described by those abusing it to be powerful and overwhelming.
One 20 year old addict that was interviewed for that article described his addiction this way "On a regular day, a good day, I'd do up to about 250 milligrams a day, 300 easy," he said. "Ten, 15 minutes after I'd wake up, I'd need something in me to get me down the stairs to talk to my wife and kid."
The ground zero for abuse in the article printed 9 years ago was described to be Cambria County, which had seen at least eight OxyContin-related deaths since 1999, running just ahead of Blair County's seven deaths, according to the coroners in both counties. There also have been deaths attributed to OxyContin in Butler, Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Somerset counties.
These days, prescription drug abuse is one of the major reasons for a drug addict to check in to a rehab facility. Drug rehab facilities have learned and have changed a lot from 9 years ago. There are special programs in place in many good drug rehab facilities dealing specifically with prescription drug abuse by teens or by adults. Two such facilities are Inspiration Teens and Families, a teen rehab center, catering to 12 to 18 year old alcohol and drug abusers and Cove Center for Recovery, an adult male and female rehab center for 18 year olds and up.
Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:
Inspirations for Youth and FamiliesAddiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/Cove Center for Recovery Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/
