What's In Your Medicine Cabinet? Oxycontin.

Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia, as a public service, is warning parents about the dangers of prescription medications that can be abused by teenagers.

"Many people are not aware of the dangers of prescription drugs," states Mary Rieser, Executive Director in Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia. "While most medications are prescribed to handle a specific ailment, these same medications can be abused by teens. Oxicontin is a highly addictive pain reliever that is being abused by thousands.

"Oxycontin is an opioid analgesic, or narcotic. It comes in doses of 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80mg. The manufacturer is no longer shipping the 160mg doses because too many people have overdosed on them and died.

"Oxycontin is a 12 hour time release medication. Normally pain medication is taken every three to four hours. Oxycontin abusers dissolve the time release coating. That means when they take it, they get a huge euphoric rush, much like the rush a person would get if they took heroin. Because, it basically is synthetic heroin.

"Oxycontin addiction is very expensive. An average 80mg tablet cost $50. One recovered addict says that you might need 4-6 of those a day. If the dealer knows that the person is dope sick, often they will charge the person more, because when the addict is sick, they will do whatever it takes to get the drug. He also says, 'When you do it, either sniffing or shooting or just taking the pills, it feels just like heroin, if not even more intense.'

"We have had people come into Narconon Drug Rehab with heroin addictions that developed this addiction from an Oxycontin. Heroin is less expensive. However people get hooked on Oxycontin, legally prescribed by a doctor or illegally gotten off the streets, people will often run out of funds to purchase the expensive drug. When this happens, they may turn to heroin, simply because it is less expensive. The addict has a terrible withdraw from the Oxycontin, and most of the time, will do whatever it takes to avoid withdraw symptoms.

"Another way of obtaining illegal prescription drugs is through the internet. Recent investigations show that 85% of online pharmacies don'r require a prescription in order to fill an order.

"Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia is a non-traditional drug rehab facility. Once going through our Sauna Detox program, the cravings for Oxycontin are reduced, if not completely eliminated, according to our students. If you suspect that someone you know is abusing Oxycontin or any other prescription drug, call us. We can help."

Copyright @ 2008. Narconon of Georgia Inc.(www.drugsno.com) Call 1-877-413-3073. All rights reserved. Narconon and the Narconon Logo are trademarks and service marks owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission. Narconon of Georgia is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation