'HILLBILLY HEROIN' USE IS RISING: MD

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.

[sidebar]

Why the nickname?

Why is OxyContin called hillbilly heroin?

The high produced by using the drug has a euphoric effect compared to
the high produced by heroin or morphine.

Tablets containing oxycodone can be crushed into powder for snorting
or swallowed whole.

It can be sold for as little as 50 cents to $1 for one milligram --
cheap compared with a hit of heroin which is $10, according to the
safe-injection site in Vancouver.

How many deaths is Oxycodone linked to in Manitoba?

The drug was involved in 16 deaths in 2006; 10 deaths in 2005; 10 in
2004; and 10 in 2003.

What are the street names Oxycodone is known by?

Oxy, oxycet, oxycottons, Oxy 80s, poor man's heroin, hillbilly
heroin

- -- Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of the provincial
medical examiner, Vancouver Coastal Health