Popping Pills a Rising Peril

By LAURA CZEKAJ, Ottawa SUN MEDIA

North Americans live in a "prescription-drug-rich" society in which over-the-counter medications are readily available, says the Canadian research chair in applied public health.

Dr. Benedikt Fischer, a researcher funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, was responding to a Sun story published yesterday that revealed a growing youth trend toward popping random prescription drugs to get high.

In a 2006 report, the Victoria-based researcher found that opioid prescription painkillers, such as oxycontin, are increasingly become a leading street drug rivalling cocaine and heroin because of the availability and relatively low cost.

The report also indicated that drug control and treatment programs are primarily focused on heroin addiction and are missing the mark when it comes to treating those addicted to painkillers.

CONSUMPTION DOUBLED

Fischer said consumption of prescription opioids has doubled in Canada in the past 10 years as physicians rely increasingly on prescribed medication for a growing number of ailments.

Often, pills that go unused are not disposed of quickly in a household and young people can take advantage.

There is an attitude towards prescription drugs that they are safer than the street-level variety, said Alex Munter, executive director of the Ottawa Youth Services Bureau.

"The fundamental issue is ensuring timely access to treatment as well as prevention," he said.

The issue of mental health is directly tied to addiction in young people. Between 60% and 80% of teenagers seeking treatment for addiction face mental health issues, said Munter.

Efforts need to be made to enhance programs dealing with prevention and early identification -- areas that over the years have not been seen as priorities, he added.
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