Prescription drug abuse overtakes street drugs

A crackdown on street drugs may be the catalyst for a rise in the abuse of prescription medications, police say.

 

"The availability of street drugs has declined, which is good, but now people are switching over to prescription drugs, which are more difficult for us to control," said Insp. Don Goard, who heads up Orillia's OPP detachment.

 

Goard said the switch in drug sources was expected.

"Prescription drug use is definitely on the rise," echoed Nancy Armstrong, Simcoe Outreach Services Centre for Addiction program manager.

 

Armstrong agreed OxyContin use has risen, as well as abuse of the drug Percocet, also prescribed for the management of severe pain, among others. Both Oxycontin and Percocet contain the powerful drug oxycodone.

 

"The unfortunate thing is that we're starting to see some deaths because of the prescription drugs," Goard said.

 

In December 2009, the Canadian Medical Association Journal reported a study finding a five-fold increase in oxy-c odone-related deaths in Ontario, mostly accidental, between 1991 and 2007.

 

Prescriptions of medications containing the drug rose more than 850% within the same time period.

Oxycodone is just one in a family of drugs containing the chemical opioid, being derived from opium, which are among the most commonly prescribed medications in Canada and are often used for patients with chronic nonmalignant pain. Deaths from opioid use have doubled in Ontario since 1991. The side effects of opioid include sedation and respiratory depression.

 

Goard said officers have been in contact with local physicians and pharmacists to inform them of the current situation.

 

"The hardcore crime associated with the drug trade is dropping off, which I'm happy to see," Goard said.

 

Goard reports there were five known drug houses in the city in March 2009. He said, at present, there are none.

 

"We've enhanced our street-level enforcement. That's proactive policing," said Goard.

 

The city's street crime unit was formed in May of last year. The unit consists of one sergeant and six constables, who work to address the issues of street-level drug use and crimes related to drug use in the community.

 

"It's probably going to take about a year to get everything straightened around," said Goard.