In article <[email hidden]>,
Chad G. said:I have posted this to some on topic (hopefully) groups to learn
more about this situation. I am somewhat ignorant about illegal
drug usage and would like a few questions answered, if anyone
wants to try and help. My questions are:1. How powerful is Oxycontin? Is it as strong as Heroin?
No, but it's quite addictive nonetheless. Oxycontin is a slow-release
opiate designed for the relief of chronic pain. Most other opiates have
too short a duration of action.
Quoted message said:2. Is this drug still commonly prescribed by physicians -- or has
all the bad publicity steered the doctors away from using it?
The sad thing about all the publicity over the last few years about
abuse of oxycontin is that, in certain areas of the country where
oxycontin abuse is the biggest problem, it may be making doctors more
reluctant to prescribe narcotics, for fear of being considered a
prescription mill, but I don't have hard evidence for this. It's just an
impression from my colleagues.
Quoted message said:3. Is it difficult "getting off" the drug if you become addicted?
It can be just as difficult as getting off morphine, heroin, or other
opiates.
Quoted message said:
4. Could Rush Limbaugh conduct a daily radio show if he was
heavily addicted to this drug?
Yes. Opiate addicts can be highly functional for many years (although
heroin addiction seems to have worse health effects than other opiates).
Usually what kills them is an accidental overdose, which is usually from
IV administration and thus is very uncommon among pill poppers. Usually
the way opiates ruin a person is financially, which is clearly not an
issue with Rush, who (if the reported allegations are true) can clearly
afford all the pills he wants.
Quoted message said:5. I have read various reports over the past year, that Oxycontin
was 1st widely misused by people in the Appalachian states. Is this
true? If so, any reasons why?
It is true. I'm not fully familiar with the reasons why, but part of it
is definitely availability. The drug can be stolen from pharmacies.
Doctors can write prescriptions for it inappropriately. It's probably
cheaper than other drugs. And on and on.
--
Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
|
|"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do you
| inconvenience me with questions?"