2008 Woodie Awards
City councillor looks to curb Oxycontin use
Amanda Pinto
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: News
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OxyContin use throughout the city of Boston is on the rise, according to City Councillor Jerry McDermott (Allston/Brighton).
Two weeks ago, McDermott and other council members met with addiction and treatment specialist to discuss how the city can combat abuse of the drug.
The prevalence of the drug is just a part of what McDermott is calling the "drug epidemic in the city of Boston." He said 60 percent of deaths among the homeless can be attributed to drug overdoses, and that he feels this problem is due to the lack of adequate detox facilities.
"Federal and state budget cuts have decimated detox beds. They have been cut in half in the last two years," McDermott said, "Trying to place someone who needs treatment is like trying to find a needle in a haystack."
Abuse of the drug is also a problem on college campuses. According to Emerson Wellness Educator Laura Collins, the drug has gained popularity because of its reputation as "hillbilly heroin", an easy-to-get, and relatively inexpensive way to get high.
Emerson Police Chief William McCabe said that he does not have any statistical evidence of Oxycontin use on campus. He believes that substances like marijuana and alcohol are much more prevalent.
OxyContin contains oxycodone, which the Food and Drug Administration describes as similar to morphine. The drug is ideal for patients in severe pain, but a growing number of people use the drug recreationally.
Collins said she considers OxyContin dangerous because large doses of the narcotic can be taken into the system in a short amount of time. The drug's capsules are "time-release", which means that the medicine is designed to be periodically dispensed into the patient's system.
When users crush the pills, they destroy the time-release coating, causing all of the medicine to be released at once.
Sophomore writing, literature and publishing major Mandy Morrison said she is not surprised the drug is growing in popularity.
Two weeks ago, McDermott and other council members met with addiction and treatment specialist to discuss how the city can combat abuse of the drug.
The prevalence of the drug is just a part of what McDermott is calling the "drug epidemic in the city of Boston." He said 60 percent of deaths among the homeless can be attributed to drug overdoses, and that he feels this problem is due to the lack of adequate detox facilities.
"Federal and state budget cuts have decimated detox beds. They have been cut in half in the last two years," McDermott said, "Trying to place someone who needs treatment is like trying to find a needle in a haystack."
Abuse of the drug is also a problem on college campuses. According to Emerson Wellness Educator Laura Collins, the drug has gained popularity because of its reputation as "hillbilly heroin", an easy-to-get, and relatively inexpensive way to get high.
Emerson Police Chief William McCabe said that he does not have any statistical evidence of Oxycontin use on campus. He believes that substances like marijuana and alcohol are much more prevalent.
OxyContin contains oxycodone, which the Food and Drug Administration describes as similar to morphine. The drug is ideal for patients in severe pain, but a growing number of people use the drug recreationally.
Collins said she considers OxyContin dangerous because large doses of the narcotic can be taken into the system in a short amount of time. The drug's capsules are "time-release", which means that the medicine is designed to be periodically dispensed into the patient's system.
When users crush the pills, they destroy the time-release coating, causing all of the medicine to be released at once.
Sophomore writing, literature and publishing major Mandy Morrison said she is not surprised the drug is growing in popularity.