Pot times July 18, 2005

Police Receive Reports Of 'Hillbilly Heroin' In Brock

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1134/a09.html
Newshawk: Herb

Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jul 2005
Source: Brock Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Brock Citizen
Contact: ltuffin@mykawartha.com
Website: http://www.mykawartha.com/ka/news/brock/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3539
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

POLICE RECEIVE REPORTS OF 'HILLBILLY HEROIN' IN BROCK

Durham police have received several unsubstantiated reports of teenagers selling prescription painkillers.

"We've had a couple of complaints from Cannington residents about teenagers selling Percocet and OxyContin right on the main street," said Detective Sergeant Steve Bell.

"Someone is getting these pills through the medical system and reselling them."

While they are referred to as prescription pain relievers, they're both opiates and there is a burgeoning market for the drugs on the street.

And while both contain the same active ingredient -- oxycodone -- one tablet of OxyContin could be as much as 160 times more powerful than Percocet.  Abusers have compared this feeling to the euphoria they experience when taking heroin.

Often referred to as "hillbilly heroin" or "the poor man's heroin," it has been linked to about 200 overdose deaths across Canada and the United States.

Anyone with information regarding the sale of any form of narcotics is asked to call 1-888-579-1520 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.