OXYCONTIN ABUSE

Oxycontin abuse is a crippling disease. I say disease because that is
exactly what any type of drug addiction/alcoholism is, and all too
many times we hear and see about the problem, but we never hear what
can be done about it.

The majority say lock them up or put them away, but we all know that
does not solve the problem. Incarceration, nine out of 10 times, only
worsens the problem, because the person is so hell-bent on getting
over the stresses of jail, they immediately turn back to drugs or as
the norm is today, Oxycontin.

Being a former addict, I know the first-hand problems associated with
the mental and physical dependence one suffers with Oxycontin abuse.
At first, it seems like it is nothing any different from any other
narcotic painkillers, but after it gets in your system sufficiently,
you are hooked. I was an Oxycontin abuser for three years and it took
me and my family on a downward spiral I would wish on no one on this
earth.

It will lead to theft, bad checks, jail, and ultimately,
death.

I finally was led to a treatment center in March 2000 that ended that
terrible slide. It was the DRD Knoxville Medical Clinic or the
methadone clinic as most refer to it. Although I realize methadone is
controversial, I know that God's saving grace led me to try this
treatment. Many people argue that you'll just end up being hooked on
methadone or as many put it, trading one habit for another.

Methadone takes away craving and withdrawal symptoms, and when they
are ready to step down off the treatment, allowing the person to trade
a lifestyle for one which will take them back to a normal life.

Our local governments need to come together and look into methadone
treatment as a deterrent to incarceration to help people who normally
would not commit these crimes we are seeing to obtain Oxycontin.

Bill P. Brooks

Pennington Gap, Va.