SPIKE IN DISPENSING OF PAINKILLER EYED

Alberta's pharmacists and doctors are to review a huge increase in the
number of prescriptions issued for a highly addictive drug linked to a
series of overdose deaths. It's estimated that abuse of the painkiller
OxyContin - known on the street as "hillbilly heroin" - has resulted in
more than 300 deaths in the U.S.

Problems related to abuse of the drug have also been reported in Eastern
Canada and officials in Newfoundland - where the drug has been linked to
several deaths - have seen a 400% increase in prescriptions in three years.

The number of prescriptions issued in Alberta for the oxycodone group of
drugs - which includes OxyContin - also increased from 58,758 in 1997 to
138,235 in 2002.

"Are those increases legitimate because of changes in pain management? Are
they a reflection of appropriate or inappropriate prescribing? It's too
early to tell that," said Alberta College of Pharmacists registrar Greg
Eberhart, adding his organization will shortly meet the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta to discuss the issue. "The concerns in
the East are a flag saying, 'Let's take a look at what's happening within
our own province and let's be proactive.' "

OxyContin is a powerful painkiller which can depress the part of the brain
that keeps people breathing during sleep. When used in high doses, it can
cause respiratory failure.

Abuse of the drug has not been a major problem in the Edmonton area but
northern Alberta RCMP said it's becoming more common - especially in areas
which have transient populations.

Rojene Waite, a spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
said an action plan has been developed to deal with OxyContin abuse because
of the "devastating" effect it's had on communities there. The plan calls
for increased enforcement, education and industry co-operation.

"Historically, this is the first time DEA has ever had an action plan that
singles out a particular brand-name drug," she said. "The death potential
that we've seen puts it in a different category."