OTTAWA TO TRACK OXY USE

Health Canada Wants To Get Grip On Painkiller Addiction

Health Canada wants to review the way a highly addictive painkiller is
being prescribed across Atlantic Canada.

The federal agency has asked pharmacies across the four Atlantic
provinces to provide their records on prescriptions of OxyContin
dating back to the start of this year.

Police have blamed addictions to OxyContin, a brand-name version of
the narcotic oxycodone, for an increase in crime and several deaths.

The anecdotes of widespread abuse have come mostly from Cape Breton
and Newfoundland.

"Health Canada is aware of concerns that have been raised about the
possible misuse and abuse of oxycodone-based products," Health Canada
spokeswoman Catherine Saunders said Wednesday.

Saunders said pharmacies are being asked to provide transaction
records dating from Jan. 1 to June 30. The records will show which
form of oxycodone was prescribed in each instance, whom it was given
to, and the name of the doctor who prescribed it.

It's meant to give Health Canada a broad picture of OxyContin use in
the region as it looks for anything out of the ordinary, the
spokeswoman said.

"We've conducted similar reviews like this before," said Saunders,
although she couldn't say how common such a review is.

The agency will share the information with health authorities across
the region.

Edgar MacLeod, chief of Cape Breton Regional Police, welcomed the
review.

"It's very good news," he said. "It will ultimately help us understand
how to approach the problem in terms of tightening the supply."

Tales of OxyContin abuse have filtered into Cape Breton courtrooms in
recent months.

MacLeod said most of the OxyContin problem in Cape Breton comes from
drugs that have been prescribed by doctors rather than purchased on
the street.

"I haven't seen anything like it in 30 years of policing, in terms of
the ability of this drug to get a hold of individuals," he said.

Added to the economic struggles already faced by many in his area,
MacLeod said the drug has taken a startling toll.

"It causes an impact on families, crime, and all kinds of other issues
that flow from that. It's a very, very serious problem here."

The drug, which can depress the part of the brain that keeps people
breathing during sleep, can cause respiratory failure in high doses.

MacLeod said the recent attention focused on the issue has caused
doctors to become more aware of the problem and take steps to combat
abuse. The manufacturer of the drug has also promised to investigate
the abuse.

In both Cape Breton and the St. John's, Nfld., area, partnerships
between police, health officials and other groups have been formed to
help fight the problem.

The head of Nova Scotia Doctors, a group representing physicians in
the province, said she's not bothered by Health Canada wanting to see
who is prescribing the drug, which is commonly given to cancer
patients as a painkiller.

Maria Alexiadis said if questions arise over a doctor's use of the
drug, the association doesn't have a problem with officials
investigating further.

"We would hope that name would be sent on to the appropriate
investigating body," she said.

"Caring for patients is the No. 1 priority for the doctors here."