Kentucky's death rate from cancer is the fourth-highest in the country. Records from the National Cancer Institute show almost 190 Kentuckians per 100,000 died of cancer in 1997, the most recent data available. The national rate was about 164 per 100,000. In Greater Cincinnati, police say, OxyContin has become the drug of choice for pharmaceutical abusers, making an unprecedented leap in popularity. Since it appeared on the illicit market about a year ago, Tristate police have confiscated more than 13,000 doses of OxyContin.
Experts say that is one of the highest totals in a city the size of Cincinnati in the nation.
However, there is no comprehensive federal data to support that because OxyContin abuse is so new. Even increased police investigations and the threat of federal prison have not slowed the OxyContin pipeline to Kentucky, authorities say. The drug has a firm grip on many of its addicts. Abusers often grind it and snort it, or it's injected. The narcotic produces a heroin-like high when it is abused.