Pubdate: Tue, 21 Nov 2006
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Carly Weeks
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

LEGAL DRUGS OVERTAKE HEROIN AS ADDICTS' CHOICE

Study Shows Trend In Several Cities; Raises Questions About Opioid Control

Forget heroin. Legal prescription drugs readily available in 
pharmacies are now the major source of illicit opioid drug abuse in 
several major Canadian cities, which raises questions about drug 
control in the country, a new study released yesterday reveals.

Although heroin addiction has been one of the most significant drug 
problems in Canada for years, research shows users are turning to 
opioids, or prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin, Percocet and 
morphine, at an increasing rate.

"The intensity of the shift surprised me quite a bit," said Dr. 
Benedikt Fischer, study author and addictions researcher at the 
Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia. "This study, for 
the first time, shows that systematically, and I would not have 
assumed, this is such a dramatic shift."

The findings were published in yesterday's issue of the Canadian 
Medical Association Journal.

The study looked at hundreds of regular users of illicit opioids from 
2001 to 2005 to track their use patterns and other social and health 
factors. Researchers focused on 679 users in 2001 and followed up 
with about 60 per cent in 2005. Researchers recruited new 
participants in order to ensure a large enough sample size in the 
followup. The study involved drug users in Vancouver, Edmonton, 
Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Fredericton and Saint John.

After tracking the changes in drug-abuse patterns, researchers were 
surprised to see heroin use waned in every city involved in the study.

Vancouver and Montreal were the only cities where heroin was the most 
commonly used opioid among study participants. In some cities, heroin 
use was virtually absent. Researchers also found the use of crack and 
cocaine declined throughout the study period.

The increasing trend toward prescription painkiller abuse is a major 
problem that signals significant changes are needed in the way 
government and law enforcement approach drug control, Dr. Fischer said.

Under the current system, officials are focused on cracking down on 
heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs and keeping them out of the country.

But little is being done about the fact that Oxycontin, morphine and 
other opioids are readily available, Dr. Fischer said.

It's not difficult for addicted drug users to get their hands on 
prescription painkillers either, he said. While some people may steal 
the drugs, others simply try "double doctoring," which means seeking 
the same prescription from several doctors over a short period of time.

"It's relatively easy in our system to get prescription opioids," Dr. 
Fischer said. "We do relatively little to control or monitor what people get."

While many people use such drugs to help cope with pain, government 
and police can't ignore the fact that many are hooked on the drugs, he said.

"They're legitimately in the country, but they're going into the 
wrong hands," he said.

In order to develop a solution, it's necessary for greater 
recognition of the fact that painkiller abuse has become a crippling 
problem, he said.

Only after that can health officials focus on developing prevention 
and treatment programs to help those who are dependent on opioids, 
Dr. Fischer said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman