GETTING THE FIX ON PRESCRIPTION

Addicts Switching From Heroin To Painkillers

Forget heroin. Legal prescription drugs readily available in
pharmacies are now the major source of illicit opioid drug abuse in
several major Canadian cities, a new study published 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 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 ... 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 Montreal, Quebec City,
Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Fredericton and Saint John, N.B.

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, Montreal and Vancouver 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 that 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.

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.

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.