OxyContin. The bane and the bliss of hundreds of thousands of addicts the world over. It’s particularly addictive in a country like Canada, where we wait so fucking long for surgeries to eliminate back, hip and knee pain, that we become junkies in the process.
Then of course we have populations of people who start out as junkies, and only get worse from there.
Among the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, or NAN, which represents 49 First Nation communities in Northern Ontario, at least half of residents are addicted to OxyContin, said Grand Chief Stan Beardy.
“In some communities, it’s as high as 70 to 80 per cent of people addicted to OxyContin, including kids as young as 9 years old to people as old 65,” Beardy said.
“We are very concerned that if they cease manufacturing OxyContin and if there is no replacement or treatment or detox centres for these people, there is going to be a major catastrophe.”
He said health care in the communities is limited to nursing stations with visiting doctors coming to treat residents two or three days each month — not enough care to deal with the thousands of people who will be forced into withdrawal.
Wait, what?
The Native talking heads aren’t concerned that they have 80% addiction rates, they are instead concerned that the drugs will be taken away?
Now, I’m no social worker, but I would think that having this highly addictive drug off the market would be a good thing for them. But hey, I’m just a crazy right-wing extremist. What do I know?
Is it us wacky white men that want them addicted because it makes them pliable? Maybe. I for one don’t – I’d rather see them be useful.
I have another question, though…
Grand Chief Beardy acknowledged the vast majority of OxyContin abused by NAN residents is sold on the black market, with individual pills selling for between $300 and $600.
Where the hell are they getting that kind of money?
I hope their withdrawl is long and painful, I am tired of Canada supporting these leeches.