THE director of the addictions unit at the Health Sciences Centre said she's seen a jump in the number of addicts seeking help for a drug nick-named 'hillbilly heroin' on the street.
Dr. L.M. Lee said in the last 18 months she's seen more patients addicted to OxyContin -- a strong narcotic painkiller containing oxycodone -- and other opiates, like morphine.
Lee estimated about two-thirds of the patients admitted to the HSC unit are addicts who got hooked during recreational use of opiates, often having sampled them at parties.
OxyContin can be prescribed legally to Manitobans as a long-release pain reliever.
Tablets containing oxycodone can be bought for as little as $4 for a 40 mg pill, then sold at a steep price by dealers.
"I'm worried we'll see more of it... I've noticed an increase in OxyContin use and other opiate use," said Lee, estimating the other one-third of patients admitted to hospital developed their addictions from legitimate prescriptions to the painkiller.
"Some people might get pain prescriptions from their doctor, and then they notice that they get some kind of emotional positivity on it. They might feel relaxed, or euphoric, or positive, or it helps their energy or self-esteem, and they start using more and more... it (also) can be sold as an experimental drug for people to try."
Lee said more patients at the 11-bed unit are saying they're using OxyContin, and she's seen patients aged 16 to 60 years who've battled addictions with the drug.
"It's spread inwards from the east towards the west... I've gone from doing about two (opiate) assessments a month to 10, but that's not all OxyContin," said Lee, noting patients might also have problems with opiates such as codeine or morphine.
Significant work, social or family problems from abusing opiates can "rapidly proceed" by within six months to three years, unlike alcoholism, which Lee said might go undetected by friends and family of addicts for as much as 10 to 20 years.
Recent research done by the province's medical examiner's office to identify the effect of the drug showed oxycodone was involved in 16 deaths of Manitobans in 2006, using data from autopsies where toxicological analysis was performed on bodies.
The most common drug addictions patients battle at the HSC addictions unit are to crack cocaine and alcohol, Lee said.
gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca
PREVIOUS
