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.
Find out more information at http://myspace.com/nhsoklahoma
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