(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, Ca) -  A scourge is threatening the lives of every high school age student throughout San Diego County.  It is a small, round, lime-green tablet with “80” inscribed on one side and “OC” on the other – OxyContin®.  Unfortunately, OxyContin®, a legal drug found in many bathroom medicine cabinets, has been diverted to wide illegal use throughout the US with disastrous effects sometimes resulting in death.

OxyContin® is a highly addictive opiate approved for relief from moderate to high pain.  This drug is prescribed for a range of conditions from severe injuries, dislocations and fractures to bursitis, neuralgia, arthritis, lower back as well as for cancer pain. 

As a point of reference, the DEA statistics indicate that 30 million Americans used legal drugs last year in an illegal manner.  Of those people, 1.5 million were dependent on them.  From January to June 2008, 833 people in Florida died of drug overdose: 57 from methamphetamine, 71 from Heroin and 705 from OxyContin®.  In the last year in San Diego County, there have been 50 deaths caused by the illegal use of OxyContin®.  

This drug is known on the street as 80’s, Beans, OC and Orange Crayons.  These terms are often found in the text messages of students’ mobile phones. When OxyContin® is abused, the tablet is crushed and then ingested, snorted, injected or smoked.  Once crushed, the pill loses its twelve-hour time-release properties and the full effect of the drug is immediate.  

A telltale sign of OxyContin® usage is lime-green smudges or streaks on clothing.  Prior to use, the tablet is moistened and the green covering removed by rubbing it on clothing.  Tin foil is used in preparing the drug for smoking; users often retain a piece of tin foil approximately twelve inches long by six inches wide lined with quarter inch wide burn streaks running the length of the tin foil—in case they are unable to purchase more of the drug. This used piece of tinfoil can be heated again so that smoke from the remaining residue can be inhaled.

The street price for OxyContin® is $50 to $80 a pill.  The Internet, Mexico, a parking lot, street corner, the family medicine cabinet or a friend involved in the culture are all ready sources for securing this drug.  OxyContin® is highly addictive.  Addiction can easily lead to a $600 to $750 a week habit, often leading the addict to steal from home and others.

The short term physical warning signs are extreme loss of appetite, constricted pupils, watery, sunken eyes, and constipation. With longer term use of this drug, the user will show signs of weight loss, poor complexion or sickly appearance, frequently sick, tremors, twitching, excessive scratching or being intoxicated with no sign of alcohol use.

The San Diego office of the DEA indicates that OxyContin® use in San Diego County runs the gamut of socio-economics and education. Telltale signs for parents are lost interest in things that were once important, a drop in academic performance, a loss of motivation and concern.  Users are usually tired and irritable, frequently providing strange reasons to go out and odd excuses for where they are going or have been. They will most likely have money issues and use manipulation or any excuse to get the funds they need.  Be aware of cash or items are missing from home. OxyContin® use is not relegated to poverty.  Parents need to be aware that this demonic drug can affect the best and the brightest. 

Young people under the influence of OxyContin®, should be taken to the ER immediately.  OxyContin® is a very dangerous drug and medical treatment is non-negotiable.

For more facts concerning OxyContin®, contact HOTLINE ABUSE  at 1-877-662-6384.  The following Websites also provide valuable information about the abuse of this drug:  www.justthinktwice.com.  http://www.facebook.com/people/Oxy-Task-Force/1669935707 and www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com. 

If parents suspect their son/daughter might be using OxyContin®, get them medical treatment and a referral to a treatment program through a medical provider or health insurance plan.  Opiate withdrawals can be very severe, difficult and dangerous.  This process should be undertaken with an appropriate health expert followed by counseling to deal with a number of related issues.

By Edwin Hearn, President, St. Augustine High School