Pubdate: Tue, 21 Nov 2006
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsor/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Carly Weeks, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

LEGAL DRUG ABUSE SOARS

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.

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

"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 are 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 changes in drug abuse patterns throughout the study period, 
researchers were surprised to see heroin use waned in every city 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.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman