Pubdate: Tue, 21 Nov 2006
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Carly Weeks, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

LEGAL DRUGS FUELLING ABUSE, STUDY SHOWS

Users Turning To Prescription Painkillers At Increasing Rate

OTTAWA -- 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 today 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 today'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 
follow-up. The study involved drug users in Vancouver, Edmonton, 
Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Fredericton and Saint John.

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

In fact, 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, 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 Oxycontin, morphine and other 
opioids are well stocked in pharmacies and readily available 
virtually everywhere, 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," 
Fischer said. "We do relatively little to control or monitor what people get."

While many people use such drugs properly and it helps them cope with 
pain, government and police in Canada can't ignore the fact many 
people are hooked on those drugs, he said.

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

In order to develop the solution, it's necessary for greater 
recognition of the fact prescription painkiller abuse has become a 
crippling problem in Canada, he said. After that, health officials 
can focus on developing prevention and treatment programs to help 
those who are dependent on opioids, Fischer said. But right now, that 
seems like a far-off solution.

"We know relatively little about what to do on an evidence basis, 
what to do efficiently about prescription opioid dependence or 
abuse," Fischer said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman