Local officials believe Squamish is the first community in B.C. in which doctors, pharmacists and police have partnered to tackle their growing concerns over use of the drug OxyContin.
After seeing an alarming trend in town, Squamish RCMP organized a working group to discuss a strategy to address opioid prescriptions being sold illegally on Squamish's streets. Comprised of the detachment, RCMP Drug Organized Crime Awareness Section and local doctors and pharmacists, the group met for the first time on Monday (Feb. 20).
Legally prescribed by doctors, highly addictive OxyContin capsules sell illegally for roughly $60 per pill, Squamish RCMP Staff Sgt. Guy Pollock told The Chief. Late last year, police seized a container of tablets - also known as Roxy, Oxy, Hillbilly Heroin and blue bombers to dealers - which held a street value of $6,000.
Like heroin, OxyContin is a central nervous system depressant. It places users in a "drunk like" state, impairing co-ordination and elevating one's pain tolerance.
The medication does have its place, said Dr. Richard Cudmore, Squamish medical director for Vancouver Coastal Health. However, even before the RCMP invitation, local physicians held a meeting regarding opioid use, he said.
"I noticed an increase," Cudmore said. "There are more people coming in who are already dependent on opioids."
OxyContin is likely one of the more popular opioids because it has a strong euphoric component, he said. Some people become dependant on it quickly, Cudmore noted.
"Opioids are helpful to some people," Cudmore said. "We all want to make sure they don't get into the wrong hands."
The working group aims to devise a strategy to curb the growing abuse of the drug. Information packages have already been sent out to local physicians.
Pollock said he recognizes there are some legitimate needs for strong medications, but unfortunately, drug trafficking, the practice known as "double doctoring" and needless addiction are also realities.
"For many people, what starts as casual use leads to drug addiction," Pollock wrote in an email. "Drug addiction is almost never started intentionally."
Most people know such addiction can have serious, long-term consequences, including problems with physical and mental health, relationships, employment and the law, he stated. People often want to quit but find they can't do it on their own, Pollock said.
"I am truly appreciative of the shared concerns and efforts underway," he said. "Squamish has a group of quality medical professionals."
Late last year the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons proposed steps to tackle the rise in OxyContin addiction. Recommendations include information-sharing among pharmacists, doctors and police and establishing a drug-monitoring system. The college is also calling on its provincial government to amend the Personal Health Information and Protection Act to influence doctors to contact police if they suspect illegal activity.
Some measures are already in place here, Cudmore noted. Pharmacists can look up a patient's prescription record no matter which pharmacy he or she visits. B.C. pharmacists will also disperse medication on a daily basis rather than handing out a bottle of pills, Cudmore noted.
For more information on OxyContin and signs of abuse visit www.rcmp.da.com.
