Absolutely, it was just as addictive. Ramundo, originally from Cincinnati, is serving a four-year term at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution for robbing six pharmacies in Hamilton County and Clermont County last spring. OxyContin was the only thing he demanded, police said. Ramundo said he used the painkiller because it was better than the quality of heroin in Cincinnati. The drug's manufacturer warns distributors to protect against theft of the tablets, an opium derivative prescribed to suppress pain for cancer sufferers and other patients.
Police say it has become popular as a drug of abuse.
Alliance Police Lt. Wayt suggests the appearance of OxyContin has coincided with the reappearance of LSD and heroin as popular drugs among local users. Scott Griffith said while the growth of use of the three drugs have been at the same time, they are not being used by the same people. Griffith said LSD is primarily being used by people under 21 years of age while OxyContin and heroin are the drugs of choice of hardcore users in their 30s and 40s. It is as hard as crack to get off of.