OXYCODONE A "PROBLEM" DRUG IN TOWN: OPP

Store Pills In Safe And Secure Manner, Cotnam Advises

The Tillsonburg News -- Abusing prescription drugs is a problem all
across the country, and Tillsonburg is no exception.

It's not uncommon for police to investigate misuse or theft of
prescription drugs that contain oxycodone -- a narcotic opioid used
for treating moderate to severe pain -- which is found in OxyContin
and percocet tablets.

Oxford OPP Const. Dennis Harwood said the drugs are sometimes stolen
along with electronics during break-ins. Sometimes, kids even steal
the pills from their parents or others in their residence who have
been prescribed oxycodone.

"The prescription drugs certainly are a concern. It is certainly a
problem in (Tillsonburg)," Harwood said, but emphasized it is a
widespread issue. "I don't want anybody to get the impression that
Tillsonburg is any different than other areas. Tillsonburg is still a
great town."

OxyContin is usually taken every 12 hours, while percocet, a
short-acting drug, is taken about every four hours, said Dan Cotnam,
pharmacist owner at Shoppers Drug Mart in Tillsonburg.

Cotnam said OxyContin is commonly prescribed to people with
degenerative diseases of disks on the spine, cancer-related pain and
chronic injuries, but he acknowledged the fact it is sometimes misused.

"People would tend to take those to get high," he said. "Don't misuse
it, because it will disorient you."

Stolen pills can be sold as something they're not on the streets, Harwood said.

"It's not above (dealers) to market something that isn't real," he explained.

He said people need to be cautious as to where they store their pills.

"If it's locked up out of sight, that temptation may not be so great
and the opportunity (for someone to steal them) isn't there," he
said. "People should be aware of where their drugs are. Who's around
them? Are they turning up missing?"

The way people handle prescription drugs in their own homes is
something police can't monitor or regulate, so "the public should be
policing themselves and keeping tabs on their medication," Harwood said.

If not, the results could be deadly.

"You start taking drugs that aren't meant for you, it could cause
severe harm or death," he warned.

Cotnam echoed that point.

"Any of the opioid class of medication can be dangerous. Try and
store them in a safe and secure manner. Don't have large quantities
of the stuff on hand," he said.

Pills containing oxycodone are sometimes introduced to youths through
peer pressure and their own curiosity, Harwood said.

"They want to experiment. They've heard about it. They get curious,"
he said. "They're going to try to pressure other people to take it."

Oxycodone doesn't create a mental addiction. It creates a physical
dependency. However, that dependency can still lead someone to
extreme measures to get their hands on the drug.

"If your body is craving it, you're going to do what it takes to
satisfy that. We've had reports saying 'My house has been broken into
and I think my kid has done it.' Your $400 television all of a sudden
goes for $100 somewhere else," Harwood said of stolen property being
sold for drug money.

That shows how far some will go to get their fix, he said, and that's
why parents should take action if they think their children might be
abusing oxycodone.

"There's no simple answer to drugs, but if someone suspects their
children are on drugs, you might want to call over to the Livingston
Centre (for referral)," Harwood advised.

On Sept. 30, 2004, a man was arrested after robbing a Thamesford
drugstore for OxyContin. Just four days later, he was arrested again
after robbing a Woodstock pharmacy.

"(That indicates) there's either a big market for it or they're just
totally dependent on it," Harwood said.

In 2005, 32 people were charged with drug offences in Tillsonburg.
It's unknown how many of those instances involved oxycodone, but
Harwood said the drug was included in that statistic. Charges
included possession, trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

He urged anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

"If people would come forward with the information they have, we
could eliminate some of this drug problem that we do have," Harwood
said. "You don't do the community any good by sitting on that
information for years."