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Updated: 4:43 PM Apr 10, 2008
The Effects of OxyContin
Harrisonburg, Va. One of the drugs that may have exchanged hands at Harrisonburg High School is OxyContin. Posted: 12:34 PM Apr 10, 2008Reporter: Emily Brown Email Address: ebrown@whsv.com |
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2 Comments 
Many aren't surprised by the Harrisonburg High School drug investigation, with news of drug abuse already so common in our society.
One of the drugs that may have exchanged hands is OxyContin. The FDA has warned Purdue Pharma, the drug's maker, that OxyContin requires a Black Box warning, the highest warning level, due to its highly addictive nature.
The general side effects of OxyContin include drowsiness, constipation and slowed breathing. Large doses can also cause nausea or vomiting, and overdoses can cause respiratory failure that may lead to death.
"Taking narcotics, or any type of opiate medications, would blunt your response time if you're taking high enough quantities. So it doesn't make sense that athletes seeking the advantage would do something like this," says Dr.Gregory Jesteadt, Harrisonburg Family Practice.
Jesteadt says OxyContin is highly addictive because it's long acting, and because there are different methods through which the medication can be taken. Some people may dissolve it or crush it to feel the effects sooner.
Latest Comments
One student standing up to tell the truth is commendable. Many parents would deny their children had any involvement whatsoever; then they would phone, encourage or even hire people to cover up the situation instead of supporting and teaching their children to accept responsibility. Owah's parents are to be commended for supporting the truth. The media using Alex Owah's name is unfair to him. He is a minor and this stigma will follow him all his life wherever he goes and whatever he does. Someone will always dig this up and he is just a kid. The newspapers and media have done an injustice to this minor. Kids hide things rather well, and especially from parents. Teachers on the other hand are trained personnel that need to deal with the issues; not disregard them. Coaches need to focus on developing good upstanding community leaders instead of just winning at sports. Deal with the issues and do a better job of molding the student athletes. We all love to win but we have failed.
How dare parents lay all the blame on Pro Athletes. If anyone is really to blame it is the parents and coaches for letting their kids down. If the coaches knew and did nothing, then they let their players down and should be fired. And, why didn't ANY of the parents realize what was going on?
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