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Oklahoma tops the nation for the non-medical use of prescription painkillers, according to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released Thursday, The ranking was based on state-by-state data from 2005-06 and released by the federal government. According to the report, 6.72 percent of all Oklahomans 12 and older had used prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes. That compares with a 5 percent national average during the same time period.
Prescription painkillers include opioid narcotics such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), "The most popular pharmaceutical substances abused /diverted in
Percocet is a prescription drug which is a combination of oxycodone and Acetaminophen (or Tylenol). Oxycodone is part of the drug class called narcotic analgesics. Oxycodone is commercially made, from thebaine, which is an opiate alkaloid. It also includes minor component of opium. In comparison to other opiates, Oxycodone has stimulating properties in comparison to other opiates which makes Oxycodone responsible for the speedy quality some users report. Acetaminophen is a more commonly utilized drug, which is a less potent pain reliever. Using the combination of the two drugs increases the effectiveness of oxycodone. When the two drugs are mixed together, the result, Percocet is used to relieve moderate to severe pain and is considered to be an opiate. Percocet is considered to be very addictive which is why it is classified as a Schedule II drug. For this reason, a prescription from a physician is needed.
The pharmacology of OxyContin make it a good substitute for heroin. Because of that, it is attractive to the same abuser population. Law enforcement agencies report heroin abusers are obtaining OxyContin because the drug offers reliable strength and dosage levels. Furthermore, if the their health insurance covers an illness that the drug treats, the insurance provider may cover the cost of the drug. However, OxyContin abusers who have never used heroin may be attracted to the lower priced heroin when their health insurance no longer pays for OxyContin prescriptions or when online pharmaceutical cources are shut down and they cannot afford the high street-level price of OxyContin.
The effective law enforcement strategies of the DEA and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs have dramatically reduced supply by:
1) Shutting down many of the online pharmacies who have supplied the burgeoning growth of addiction to these substances,
2) Cracking down upon multiple physician prescriptions through their Prescription Monitoring Program,
3) And stepping up enforcement on loose prescription patterns.
While some criticism has emerged regarding the last initiative with regard to the treatment of chronic pain, these agencies have been highly effective in reducing supply. That, however, creates another problem.
Exponential growth in addiction met with a dramatic reduction in supply, creates a situation where a large number of people get sick and desperate. Prices spike as addicts clamor to find the drugs they need so badly. Alternative, and often illegal, methods for raising funds are employed. Progressively risky behavior and criminal associations occur.
People lose jobs, lose housing, and lose families, dismantling a network of support systems that are challenging, if not impossible, to rebuild. The magnitude of people potentially involved will send shockwaves through the criminal justice, social services, health care, and criminal justice service delivery systems as we taxpayers foot the bill especially if we fail to plan a strategy for intervention.
SAMHSA has identified Medication Assisted Treatment, Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP) 43, as an evidenced-based best practice for minimizing the the destruction of opioid addiction and improving outcomes for recovery.
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