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Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 10:52 am | by cadfy
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By Ali Wolf
Published October 20, 2010
Prescription drug abuse in San Diego has become an epidemic that has been sending shockwaves throughout the county. After the alarming increase within the past couple of years, San Diego's prominent leaders, healthcare officials and community members have banded together to combat this dangerous trend from perpetuating itself.
Over the years, more and more young people in San Diego have turned to prescription drugs for recreational use, most commonly Oxycontin. But what is this drug and why are we seeing such a sharp increase in the amount of young people who are abusing the medication?
Oxycontin is classified as a highly addictive narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine or heroin. The drug is ingested for a euphoric high that last for hours. Health officials attribute the high rate of Oxycontin abuse in teens to the easy access of this medication, and the misconception that they are not as dangerous as other ‘street drugs.' Most people tend not to lock or discard their unused medications, making these prescription pills highly vulnerable to theft and misuse. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 70 percent of drugs obtained by young people were received from a friend or relative.
For over a decade, Oxycontin abuse has been considered to be a national problem. San Diego has been relatively insulated from the epidemic, but now the problem has become a serious local concern. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis says Oxycontin is now an "emerging epidemic" among local youth. This claim is supported by the increasing number of prosecutions and deaths connected to prescription drugs that have been reported over the past six years.
From 2004 to 2006, there have been 17 Oxycontin-related deaths in San Diego County. Between 2008 and 2009, that figure rose to 54. Local officials report that the highest rate of Oxycontin abuse happens in more affluent suburban communities such as Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Valley and Poway.
While many consider Oxycontin misuse to be a growing epidemic in San Diego, some attribute the increasing figures to the increased attention to the issue by local authorities making teens curious about the drug. Either way, abuse of prescription drugs, especially Oxycontin, has been, and still is a serious problem in San Diego County. The issue has inspired local officials and community members to band together to combat prescription drug abuse before it worsens; regardless of whether or not it is considered an epidemic.
In September, the DEA sponsored a national initiative to fight prescription drug abuse. The event was called "Take Back the Day." On September 25th 2010, 22 drop-off points were created in San Diego County, giving local residents a place to get rid of unused medications. In just one day, a total of 4,887 pounds of medicine was collected throughout the county. This event marked the start of a huge initiative to encourage people to get rid of their potentially harmful prescription drugs and raise awareness of their serious risks. Due to the success of the prescription "Take Back Day," drug receptacles have become a permanent fixture at the 22 police and safety stations all around San Diego County.
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