Closing down 'cocktail parties'
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In contemporary teenaged slang, they are known as ‘cocktail parties’ or ‘pharm parties:’ a dangerous form of drug-related Russian roulette in which participants pool purloined prescription medication in a bowl.
“And then each kid takes a couple of pills,” said Oxford OPP Constable Stacey Culbert.
The practice is one particularly dangerous and troubling manifestation of prescription drug abuse, a hidden, if growing issue says Culbert.
“The prescription drug epidemic is certainly one we want to address.”
The stereotypical version of a drug dealer, a dark, shadowy, hooded criminal existing, and selling to customers on the fringes of society may be a convenient compartmentalization. Those stereotypes do exist, says Oxford OPP Inspector Tim Clark, but prescription drug abuse casts a wide net through all age groups and social and economic classes and is as close to any family as its medicine cabinet.
“It is crossing all lines when it comes to prescription (drug abuse),” said Clark. “We’re seeing it in all walks of life.”
Oxford OPP joined in a provincial Prescription Drug Drop Off Day exercise Saturday, setting up a drive-by/information site in the Tillsonburg Canadian Tire parking lot between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Apart from providing a safe, controlled dump site for citizens, the effort was intended to draw attention to the potential for misuse and abuse of prescription drugs.
Used properly under medical supervision, narcotics are an integral part of modern pain medication. But unattended unused, unwanted or expired narcotics may represent a dangerous combination of big temptation, big money and big trouble, says Clark.
“They are available for kids to get at.”
Prescription narcotics have also become a significant part of the illegal drug trade.
Fentanyl pain patches, for example, are designed to provide medication via a time-release mechanism. This is bypassed by injecting, chewing or smoking, which provides an immediate ‘rush.’ Individual ‘oxy’ pills, depending on size, may be worth anywhere from $20 to $100, according to one unofficial source, in the neighbourhood of $1 per milligram. They are crushed, smoked, snorted or injected, providing a potent and undeniably dangerous high.
“They are highly addictive,” said Culbert.
“You can’t get off it,” added Clark.
Their illegal use, high street value and the fact they are highly addictive exacerbates the issue, says the inspector. Criminals or addicts may target the narcotics themselves in homes or businesses, or addicts commit other property crimes in order to pay for their addiction.
“If you have a big habit, you need to finance it somehow.”
Prescription narcotics were Saturday’s primary target, and by 11:30 a.m. over 600 narcotic pills, along with 12 Fentanyl patches had been turned in, along with a varied assortment including cold medication, vitamin pills and used ‘sharps’ collected from a vacant rental property.
“We appreciate people for looking into and cleaning out their medicine cabinets to make the streets safer,” said Culbert.
“It’s good to have days like this to be able to drop off unused or expired pills, so you aren’t a target for a break and enter, or providing access for family members who may have addictions,” Clark added in conclusion.