HEROIN ABUSERS TURNING TO PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS

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
University of Victoria's 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
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 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. For now, that seems
like a far-off solution.