The discontinuation of and possible withdrawals from OxyContin has been a hot topic lately, but it's the idea of users turning to other street drugs which has one high school's detox program worried.
Dennis Franklin Cromarty's detox program has about 40 students enrolled, and its co-ordinators are hoping education will be enough to keep them away from opiates and other substances altogether.
School nurse practitioner Mae Katt said now that OxyContin is no longer in production, the black market supply will be diminishing.
But withdrawal from Oxy itself isn't the main concern.
The school is worried students will be seeking alternatives.
Katt said she's already seeing students using Percocet and Tylenol with codeine, along with potentially even more dangerous substances.
Katt added that since OxyContin was pulled off the shelves, the program has not seen an increase in those seeking help.
But she said there is no way of knowing just how much of the drug is still on the streets.
To help wean the students off of opiates, Katt and other nurse practitioners give those in the detox program a daily dose of Suboxone.
She's hoping education about the substitute drug will keep the students strong enough to stay on the program.
Meanwhile, regional coroner Doctor Michael Wilson is reiterating his safety warning following a recent opiate-related death in the region.
While some newer drugs have been created with the intention of being harder to abuse, it's not difficult if a person is determined to misuse them.
Wilson said he's glad to see the topic receiving so much attention lately because it will help raise awareness about the dangers of these medications.
