Pubdate: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2008 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: David Hutton, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) METHADONE LEVEL IN INMATE HIGH: EXPERT The amount of methadone in Aaron Crawford's body was enough to kill him, an Alberta toxicologist testified at an inquest into his death Tuesday. Dr. Graham Jones, who was asked to review the toxicology results, told the coroner's inquest into Crawford's death that methadone, in combination with the four other prescription drugs in Crawford's system, was consistent with other reports of methadone overdoses. "I ultimately concluded that the concentration of methadone in Mr. Crawford's body was sufficiently high enough to cause his death," Jones testified. Crawford, a 33-year-old federal inmate from Prince Albert, died in his cell at the Regional Psychiatric Centre four days after he started on methadone, a drug used to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, as part of a voluntary program to fight an addiction to morphine. He was found dead in his cell during a routine check on the afternoon of March 26, 2007. The toxicology report did not indicate Crawford had been taking other drugs on top of what he was prescribed, Jones said. Crawford's tolerance was likely low, Jones testified, because he had been incarcerated for 10 months and an earlier urinalysis indicated he hadn't been using opiates while in jail. Methadone can stay for longer periods in the body while tolerance is built. In other provinces, regulations require a five-day lapse before the dosage is increased to allow the body time to adjust and gain tolerance for the drug, Jones said. But the dosage of 20 milligrams and the subsequent increase to 30 milligrams after three days in Crawford's case was still within the provincial regulations in Saskatchewan, federal lawyer Bruce Gibson said in his questioning of Jones. Pathologist Dr. Shaun Ladham is expected to testify today on the cause of death, while Dr. Brian Fern, the physician who prescribed methadone to Crawford, will be questioned on the centre's voluntary methadone program. The inquest has been called to determine how Crawford's death could have been prevented. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin