Survey: More teens using Oxycontin

[Moloch]

The use of marijuana and other illicit drugs declined slightly among teenagers in 2004, but dangerous inhalants and the highly addictive prescription painkiller Oxycontin are becoming more popular, a new national drug survey says.

The percentage of 12th-graders who reported using any illicit drug during the past year fell to 38.8% in 2004, compared with 39.3% the previous year, according to the study done by the University of Michigan for the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That continued a decline in teen drug use that began during the 1990s. (Related graphic: A closer look at illicit drugs)

But the study also points out ominous trends in teens' drug use. The use of inhalants such as paint thinner, glue and gasoline increased sharply among 8th-graders in 2003 and continued to rise this year, a sign that inhaling, or "huffing," is rebounding in popularity after many years of decline.

Inhaling chemical fumes is most common among younger teens because products that contain them are cheap, easy to find and legal to buy.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&ncid=676&e=2&u=/usatoday/20041222/ts_usatoday/surveymoreteensusingoxycontin

[Flammable Materials]

1. Thanks, Rush, for being such a good role-model for America's "yoot".

Now that kids know that you were able to abuse Oxycontin and get away with it ... hell, why not?

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Great... they move from a relatively harmless drug (pot)...

...to a highly addictive one (oxycontin). The key here is that one remains illegal (and harder to procure), while the other is legal (and a big moneymaker for the pharmaceuticals).

And meet Pharma's newest lobbyist:

Congressman Billy Tauzin, R-LA

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. But! But! But!

It's a Preeeeescription drug! That makes it OK!

As if...

[Poppyseedman]

4. Oxycontin

Whiteman crack

[durablend]

5. They're just emulating daddy's hero...

Crushed Limpballs

[Cheswick2.0]

14. oxcycontin has nothing in common with crack

it's a perscription opiate. It could be called white man's heroin but I think there are already plenty of white heroin addicts.

[Poppyseedman]

22. oxcycontin has nothing in common with crack

I know except for how quickly you can be addicted.

[Moloch]

16. You're thinking of crystal meth...

NT

[Poppyseedman]

23. You're thinking of crystal meth...

No, I was thinking of oxy. It's highly addictive like crack. Not like Meth.

[libpunkmom]

17. "Hillbilly Heroin"

[0007]

25. That's what they call it!

[sled]

6. Their intentions all along

Take the money from some "drug dealers", & put it the pocket of the right "drug dealers"...a distinction, without a difference...

[girl gone mad]

26. True.

Remember the anti-drug advertisements: money for illicit drugs funds terrorists. Maybe kids got the message, and decided to become conscientious consumers, giving their money to big oil, big chemical and big pharma instead of the pothead terrorists down the street.

[sled]

28. Coincidences

Cynical? I always wonder at which point folks might realize, that all these coincidences seem to lead back to the same root cause. Is it just terrible policy, one stacked upon another, that always seems to make us shoot ourselves, in the foot, or is by design? Coincidence theory, or conspiracy theory? For the answer, I once again, defer to Mr. Jefferson, the founder of the Democrat Party:

"And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of the society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery, and to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering."

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jefl246

[jarab]

7. The only thing political about this epidemic

might be the collusion between the FDA and the pharmaceuticals in light of the abuse.
In my neck of the woods hardly any extended family has been unaffected. It is every family's nightmare at present.
And, yes, pot has gained a new respectability in light of this and other recent competitors. After all, everything is relative.
It's not called "open casket" (O.C.) without a reason.

...O...

[hadrons]

8. Rush's outreach to the youth of America hasn't worked too well

... just like Dumbya's when the draft notices start coming

[w4rma]

9. Rush Limbaugh is their role model. (nt)

[TX-RAT]

10. Served a warrant in a small town east of us.

We had had a lot of burglary's in that area. When we went into the house the smell was overwhelming, not only was there cat and dog crap everywhere. There was also about 15-16 empty 1 gallon cans of Tolulene in the parents bedroom and closet. There were 4 small children between the ages of 2-6 running around either naked or in their underwear. We found most of the stolen items, which ranged from guns to tires to lawn mowers. Story ends with Dad going to jail, mom going to state hospital for observation, children going to ER to be checked out.

[genieroze]

12. Tolulene, was is it? eom

[TX-RAT]

15. Paint thinner

[Cocoa]

11. Rush was doing this before it was cool

[BeTheChange]

13. I dont think the vast majority of Babyboomers understand how bad it is..

Prescription drugs are being used and abused by children in ways that would blow most soccer moms minds.

I have a best friend whose 17 year old sister is currently in rehab for oxy. I know no less then 20 oxy addicts and they arent lower class fringe kids. They are middle american. We've lost 3 friends to oxy. This doesnt even crack the surface though. When you add ritalin and adderall into the mix you have alot of kids that are headed down a path to serious problems. I'd rather hear a kid is snorting cocaine then that they are taking oxy, Ive seen so many lives turned upside down.

Most kids can buy a prescription drug high for the day for less then 10 bucks. From what I hear, it helps take the boredom of our current school system away. Im 26 and in talking to so many youth it absolutely blows my mind how easy it is for them to get their hands on it and the type of people who are using it.

Im no saint either, Ive done my fair share of experimentation.. but give me back the days of pot and even mdma anyday compared to the zombies we are cranking out.

[libpunkmom]

20. Agree with "the old days"

I've had several people ask me about drugs when it comes to my son (who is only 7). I always answer, "If all my son ever does is smoke pot and drink, I'll count myself extremely lucky." Of course, I've been told that's a "horrible answer", and that I'm "encouraging" my son to use drugs. I look at it as being honest, kids are going to be kids, and most of us have done our fair share (plus) of experimenting. I think more people should just be honest with themselves when it comes to their kids and drugs. I'm always honest with my son, and always will be. If (when) he starts asking me about drugs, I'm going to be perfectly honest with him, I would rather him know the truth from me, and be told the truth about different "substances", instead of being told "drugs are bad" and him deciding to go and find out for himself.

[Occulus]

21. Your right, of course

my father didn't admit to having once smoked pot until about a year or two before he died.

[DownNotOut]

18. Like giving

candy to little AmeriKKKan babies.... Thugs know that most recreational drug users are likely to be 'lefties'. They are simply thinning the herd.


DownNotOut

[maxsolomon]

19. when you oppress & shame you cause what you fear

watch america make the EXACT WRONG CHOICE EVERY TIME.

[daleo]

24. Oh what a feeling, what a Rush. n/t

[mtnester]

27. Well no kidding when they can just go to the medicine cabinet and get it

not to mention how half of their parents idolize the "still walking free, no punishment in site, Oxycontin abusing, take his word for gospel" Rush Limbaugh.

So sad to see the movement from pot to this drug. Such a waste.