DETAILS ON OPIOD DEPENDENCE

RE: 'More Ontarians addicted to prescription drugs: docs' Sept.
17.

People suffering from opiod dependence belong to all social classes
and professions. Many of them are functional and maintain employment,
while others are not. They may abuse prescription opiods dispensed at
the pharmacy or obtained without a prescription. There is an active
market for prescription opiods and only a portion of addicted
individuals participate in illegal activities to obtain them.

It is fortunate that addiction treatment is available in Ontario.
Comprehensive programs providing opiod substitution (like Suboxone and
methadone) in combination with counseling and sober support have been
shown to be effective to recover from opiod addiction, even more so
than medication treatment alone.

Mario Douyon de Azevedo, M. D.

Addiction Services of Eastern Ontario