OXYCODONE NEW DRUG ON BLOCK

'Hillbilly Heroin' Tied To 27 Deaths

HILLBILLY heroin is part of a new trend in drug use that includes a
jump in methamphetamine and powdered cocaine use. Oxycodone -- known
as "hillbilly heroin" because it's cheap and easy to obtain -- was
responsible for 27 deaths in Toronto in 2002, up from seven a year
earlier, Dr. Joyce Bernstein of Toronto Public Health said yesterday
during the release of the Drug Use in Toronto 2004 study.

Reports of increased use of the narcotic pain reliever available by
prescription have been noted across North America in the last five
years, said Bernstein, the chairman of the Research Group on Drug Use,
a collection of municipal and provincial healthcare agencies.

Users often take megadose pills designed to be released into the
bloodstream over time and grind them up, resulting in an instant hit.

"Reports of individuals who chew these pills or dissolve them in order
to release the full dosage all at once are very alarming and very
likely leading to the high number of deaths," Bernstein said.

Increased Use Of Speed

Methamphetamines -- known on the street as "speed" or "crank" -- are
increasing in use among club and bar patrons as well as the homeless
because of its cheap price and long-lasting highs. The drug also
quells inhibitions, suppresses appetites and the need for sleep.

Among Toronto's street people 37% report using the drug at least
monthly in a March 2004 survey. Speed has reached record levels among
Vancouver's homeless population.

Young adults are cutting their use of designer drugs like ecstasy and
GHB but use of inhalants is alarmingly high, Bernstein said.

In Toronto schools, 3% of students said they had tried huffing glue in
the 12 months before they were questioned for a 2003 survey and 8% had
tried other inhalants.

"Inhalants are found in markers, white out, nail polish, various
household cleaners and hundreds of other common products," Bernstein
said.

"These substances are often not considered to be drugs."