WHY PHARMACY HEISTS? HERE'S WHY

Are Albertans sicker than other Canadians or do we just like getting
buzzed on powerful pills?

Whatever the case, prescription opioid consumption in Alberta is
higher than anywhere else in Canada.

Not only that, there's a waiting list to get into
Edmonton's opioid dependency program for the first time since
the treatment plan opened three decades ago.

"This is the first time we've ever reached capacity where
we've had to have a wait list," says Blayne Blackburn,
Edmonton zone site manager for Alberta Health Services's opiate
dependency program and addiction recovery centre.

There's only room for 550 patients in the opiate program -- a
methadone maintenance treatment plan. At any given time, there are 60
to 80 people on the waiting list. And they're not strung-out
heroin addicts, folks.

The vast majority of them are addicted to potent prescription
painkillers.

Over the last year, there's been a marked increase in people
seeking care for opioid use, particularly Oxycontin addiction, says
Blackburn.

Most of them had been taking legitimate prescription medication for
pain and became hooked, he explains. "Analgesics are very strong
painkillers and dependency can happen."

Overall, about 3,000 people a year are admitted to the detox program
and 40% of the clientele in the past year reported opiate use.

Detox staff get 20 to 40 calls a day from people requesting admission
and about 40% of the calls are from people aged 16 to 24 inquiring
about Oxycontin use, says Blackburn.

The surge in the number of people trying to get into the opiate
dependency program has been exacerbated by the flow of addicted people
from other provinces coming to Alberta for jobs, he adds.

These individuals were on methadone maintenance treatment elsewhere
and want to continue their care here.

"That leaves us in a difficult position," says Blackburn.

"Would we see them as priorities ... or would it be the
people who are marginalized and facing issues in our community
already?"

In addition, the street price of Oxycontin has doubled in the last few
years to $40 for 80 milligrams -- a possible factor in the dramatic
rise in pharmacy heists, he adds.

Not everyone's an addict but Canadians sure love popping
pills.

Doubled

We consume more prescription opioids per capita than any other country
except the U.S. In fact, our consumption has more than doubled in the
last decade, says Benedikt Fischer, a Simon Fraser University public
health prof and drug expert.

And Albertans gobble more opioids than other Canadians, he
notes.

It could be because Alberta doctors more readily prescribe such drugs,
he says.

As for the deliberate abuse of prescription drugs, Canadian data is
sketchy.

A random phone survey of Albertans in 2002 indicated 8% of adults here
misuse prescription medication, most frequently opiates. But no recent
studies have been done.

However, the abuse of prescription opiates has risen steadily in the
U.S. and presumably the same thing is happening here, says Fischer.

"The prescription opioids are now as good as heroin, if not
better," he explains.

"Oxycontin ... is now as desirable and as potent as heroin.
It's also much more available ... than heroin."

As a result, heroin use in Alberta has virtually disappeared.

Why is there so much abuse of prescription opioids?

"This is the $64,000 question," says Fischer.
O

One possible explanation is that doctors have little time to assess
patients, he says.

"What's the quickest remedy when in doubt? We prescribe a
drug. And most patients ... expect to walk out with a pill as a
tangible solution."