Click here to view the embedded video.

The Road to OxyContin Addiction video – A true story

In 2009, the CBC reported that doctors were to be given a “guide” about Oxycontin prescriptions. This occurred because the Canadian Medical Association had found that 300 people die from the drug each year in Ontario. Studies so far have covered Ontario proper, and normally do not state statistics concerning the Toronto area alone. Regardless, Toronto officials have realized that bringing Oxycontin into Canada has caused problems that may be very difficult to solve.

The Health Minister, Deb Matthews said in 2010 that she wanted to introduce legislation that would track prescriptions for all health plans, public and private. Officials are well aware of the growing problems that are involved with Oxycontin addictions. Overall, they are very concerned about the level of prescriptions written, use, and level of abuse of Oxycontin in Toronto. In one study mentioned by the Health Minister, one patient was given over 2000 Oxycontin pills.

With only three months into 2011, headlines are already being made about the rise in crime due to Oxycontin. A string of pharmacy robberies in Toronto were targeted for Oxycontin robbery in February of this year. Also in February, a popular Pizza restaurant was involved in a drug bust which yielded $1 million in drugs. These are only two of the examples of how Oxycontin is making the headlines in Toronto, and not in a good way.

Oxycontin was allowed into Canada because it was claimed to have been a proven method of pain relief. Since that time, it has become much more a source of trouble and devastation than pain relief. As far as the levels of Oxycontin and Oxycodone in Toronto, they show no signs of slowing. In fact, chances are, judging from the news, it is increasing every day. As long as doctors continue to prescribe the drug, there will be those becoming addicted.

If you know someone addicted to OxyContin, you can get help for them by calling Narconon Trois-Rivières: 1-877-782-7409.

Increased crime rates, pharmacy robberies and homelessness are three of the growing problems that can be associated directly and indirectly to Oxy addiction in Toronto.

Between 2000 and 2004, there were 571 persons admitted for opioid detoxification, according to the CFP (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2628831/”). In that time, the number of Oxy addict admissions increased 3.8% in the year 2000, to 55.4% in 2004. It was also found that the amount of Oxy used was substantially higher than that of a normal prescription dosage. Interestingly, during that same time, heroin addictions seemed to remain rather steady.

Most studies, including that of CFP conclude that a physician’s prescription was the most common source of supply, as well as the original source of the addiction. There has long been a public outcry in Canada and the U.S. to convince doctors to prescribe Oxy so often, since it commonly leads to addiction. Apparently, they continue to write them, even increasing the amount of Oxy prescriptions written annually.

Oxy has only been approved for prescription for 16 years. Healthzone.ca (http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/580198) reported in 2009 that $54 million prescriptions for Oxy had been written. That triples the amount that had been prescribed only 5 years earlier. Interestingly, the number of deaths attributed to Oxy in 2008 was 123, according to the Ontario Centre for Forensic Science. That was up from 63 in 2004.

The ODB (Ontario Drug Benefit) plan pays for over half of the prescriptions written for Oxy in the Toronto area. When they contacted Purdue Pharm, the manufacturer of the drug, they were told that prescription fraud and theft played a part in the growing number of addictions and deaths. Conversely, if the drug weren’t legal, there would be no prescription fraud or theft. Officials struggle to keep the problem under control.

Leading drug rehab centers, such as Narconon Trois-Rivieres, lead the fight against Oxy addictions, and are also vocal about stopping the problem where it begins; with the prescription availability. Their doors are always open at Narconon to help anyone who needs it. They also put out helpful PSAs concerning the growing problem with Oxy addiction in Toronto, and globally. Far too many lives have already been affected.

To Know more about the Narconon OxyContin Addiction Treatment, Call 1-877-782-7409

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oxycontin Side Effect: Addiction

]]> http://narconon.on.ca/toronto-rehab/oxy-addiction-in-toronto/feed/ 1 http://narconon.on.ca/toronto-rehab/oxycontin-drug-abuse-in-toronto/ http://narconon.on.ca/toronto-rehab/oxycontin-drug-abuse-in-toronto/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:52:44 +0000 J-F http://narconon.on.ca/?p=395 Continue reading →]]> Canada, particularly Ontario, is not waiting around for the problem to be as big as it is in the United States. Already in Toronto there are an alarming number of OxyContin addicts, and that number is growing. New laws are taking effect to curb the availability, or at least track the use of this highly addictive drug. Too many Ontario residents are suffering as a result of OxyContin use, and Toronto may just be leading the way.

In 2003, 100 people who died had OxyContin in their system at the time of death. The population of the greater Toronto area is over 5 million, which means that if 100 people died having Oxy in their system, many more are using the drug on a regular basis, many addicted. Substance abuse centers, such as those run by Narconon, are seeing an increase in the number of OxyContin addiction intakes.

New laws are being initiated to track the purchase and use of OxyContin, which should help to some degree. Of course, drugs bought off the street cannot be tracked. Prescriptions for Oxy, Valium, Codeine, Morphine and Ritalin that are purchased in Ontario will be tracked. It will track the sale and dispense of these drugs, even through private health plans.

Alarmingly, the diversity of those becoming addicted to Oxycodone is increasing. The First Nations communities are being hard hit by injury and death resulting from the use of Oxy. One study, as reported by the CBC, done on the student population in Ontario showed that 1 in 5 teenaged girls admitted using OxyCodone and other Opiod painkillers without a prescription. They often obtained the drugs from their parent’s prescription bottles.

Narconon, a leading rehabilitation center in Canada and the United States, is continuing on the fight to end OxyCodone and OxyContin addiction. They provide drug and alcohol addiction material as well as a successful rehab program. The increase in addictions is alarming, and the news must be spread across Canada and the United States. Drug abuse in Toronto has a high concentration of OxyContin addicts, largely because the drug is so easily and readily prescribed and overused.

Drug abuse in Toronto is not new, but it is increasing at an alarming rate. The newest measures to track the use of OxyContin will undoubtedly help, but more is needed. Friends and loved ones of suspected addicts are urged to find out more about OxyContin addiction and what can be done.

For more information about the OxyContin addiction treatment program of Narconon, please call 1-877-782-7409.

There are different theories among the different Toronto drug and alcohol rehab centers. Not all subscribe to the same practices. This is something to consider if checking out rehab centers for yourself or a loved one. Some even use substitute drugs in treatment, which is controversial at best. There are safer and healthier ways of ridding the body of drugs, which is the ultimate goal. Since drugs affect every aspect of a person’s life; the only way to treat it is to treat the whole person. Treating the mind, body and spirit is called holistic healing and it is very effective.

Another thing to keep in mind is the longer a person is able to stay in treatment, the better chances of success. Alcoholics and drug addicts don’t have their lives torn apart overnight, nor can healing take place overnight. It takes time and learned skills to be able to return to their normal lives and be substance free. Residential programs normally have higher success rates.

There are times when an alcoholic or drug addict refuses to seek treatment for themselves. If this is the case; an intervention may be called for. These have proven to be very successful in getting the addict help. After an intervention, most alcoholics and drug addicts will seek help within a week. Normally, under the guidance of a drug counselor, the loved ones confront the alcoholic/drug addict and basically let them know that they will not put up with it any longer. Rules are laid out for the addict and they are told they need to get help.

Drug abuse and alcoholism are far reaching. So many people are affected by them. Loved ones often suffer just as much, if not more than the addict because they feel helpless to do anything as they watch their loved one’s life falling apart. If the addict won’t seek help, family members and friends should act by contacting a drug rehab counselor for help. Help is only a phone call away and it is so simple to do. One step at a time is the only way to combat drug addiction and alcoholism, so take that first step and call.