Health Canada to review painkiller abuse
24 -Jun-2004

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 of this year. The records will show which form of oxycodone was prescribed in each instance, who it was given to, and the name of 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 the fact Health Canada wants to see who is prescribing the drug, which is an effective treatment ment for malignant pain.

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."