Oxycontin is a Popular Drug in the Canadian Provinces

Oxycodone is known to produce an opiate effect and is highly addictive. It can be found in 3 forms as follows:

1.    Oral

2.    Regular

3.    Controlled

Approximately 6 years ago a long lasting form of oxycodone, better known as,

“oxycontin” was introduced to the market. It became available in 10-80 mg and was time released. However, drug users found that it produced an immediate heroin effect if the pills were crushed or chewed. Now as the “Hillbilly Heroin” drug, oxycontin is found to be popular in the rural and/ or poor sectors of Canada.

Oxycodone has been marketed with “acetaminophen” in the past, as well as with ASA, which produces a short term pain reliever effect, better known as percocet or percodan. Oxycodone is available under various trade names, such as endocet, oxycontin, oxyconet, & supeudol. Between 1999 and 2003, deaths related to oxycontin increased in Canada. It was found that the warnings that were placed on these pills were not strong enough, and did not state that the drugs were highly addictive. Because of this, many deaths related to this drug were reported throughout Canada.

Oxycontin, also known as,”oxy” is more popular than heroin in Canada. The Canadian government has formed many agencies to regulate and control the amount of oxycontin that is distributed throughout its borders. Physicians are being monitored as to the amount of this drug that they are prescribing. The government feels that if less oxycontin is prescribed, then less addiction will occur. This is very true for 2 reasons;1) patients will not be taking oxycontin for pain when not really necessary, 2) individuals will not have an excess of this drug to sell “”on the streets”.

Canada not only is dedicated in preventing the addiction treated to oxycontin, but also is serious about helping individuals with a “cure”. They have opened many rehab facilities that prescribe “methadone” treatments on a daily basis. These doses are highly monitored and are used to wean addicted “oxy” users off of the highly potent drug. Many individuals committed to getting off of this drug are finding success in this treatment.