OXYCODONE FOUND TO BE MORE DEADLY THAN HEROIN

Overdose deaths in Ontario from a legal narcotic painkiller have overtaken
deaths from the illegal drug heroin and are catching up to deaths by
cocaine, provincial data show.

The prescription narcotic oxycodone was involved in 464 deaths in the
five-year period between 2004 and 2008 and the numbers are trending
upward. The Star was able to get a five-year period of death data for
heroin (49 deaths) and cocaine (641 deaths), although the data available
was for a slightly earlier time period, 2002-06.

The Star also found that in the 2002-06 period, there were 366 overdose
deaths in Ontario blamed on methadone, a legal drug prescribed for people
who are trying to get off an addiction to narcotics, such as oxycodone and
heroin.

The data was released to the Star from the Office of the Chief Coroner of
Ontario and the Centre of Forensic Sciences.

Oxycodone is a narcotic drug that is to be used by people with extreme
pain. It is most commonly available in prescription form as either
OxyContin or Percocet. OxyContin is a popular painkiller that is intended
for slow release over 12 hours.

But abusers of the drug crush the tablets and snort the heroin-like
powder, or mix it with liquid for injection into the veins. When looking
at the cause of death, investigators can conclude that oxycodone was
involved, but are unable to determine the brand of the drug taken.
Ontario's health ministry has launched a national review into the abuse of
OxyContin and other forms of oxycodone following a Star investigation that
showed high rates of prescription of the drug on Ontario's public drug
program.

Meanwhile, families affected by OxyContin say they want the province to
take a hard look at whether it is being properly prescribed.

The sister of a 28-year-old man who died last month said her brother was
on and off oxycodone and other prescription narcotics, and was also taking
methadone to treat his addiction. The brother, whose death is being probed
by a coroner, received the drug both from prescriptions and a friend who
received the drug from the Ontario Drug Benefit Program. "My brother did
not have any kind of injuries that would necessitate the use of a highly
addictive drug such as this. I am appalled," said his sister, who asked
that her name not be used.

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ON THE RISE

Deaths from prescription painkiller oxycodone have passed heroin and are
close to the level of overdose deaths from cocaine in Ontario.

LEGAL DRUGS: Drug deaths over 5 years

* Oxycodone deaths 2004-2008: 464

* Methadone deaths 2002-2006: 366 (Methadone is a legal drug for treatment
of addictions, typically to oxycodone)

Total deaths attributed to methadone and oxycodone: 830

ILLEGAL DRUGS: Drug deaths over 5 years

* Heroin deaths 2002-2006: 49

* Cocaine deaths 2002-2006: 641

Total deaths attributed to heroin and cocaine: 690

SOURCE: Office of the Chief Coroner and the Centre of Forensic Sciences