Navigation Links
Deaths related to narcotic pain relievers have doubled since 1991: Study
Date:12/7/2009

TORONTO, December 7, 2009 - Deaths from opioid use in Ontario have doubledfrom 13.7 deaths per million residents in 1991 to 27.2 deaths per million residents in 2004according to a new study led by physicians at St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) in Toronto.

Researchers also found that the addition of a long-acting form of oxycodone (OxyContin) to the province's drug formulary in January 2000 corresponded with a five-fold increase in oxycodone-related deaths.

"Many doctors are aware that prescription opioids can have fatal side effects by depressing breathing and decreasing level of consciousness," explains lead author Dr. Irfan Dhalla, a physician at St. Michael's Hospital. "But we suspect most will be surprised to learn just how many deaths occur each year in Ontario from prescription opioids."

Opioids, also known as narcotic pain relievers, are among the most commonly prescribed medications in Canada. They are used to treat people with moderate-to-severe acute or chronic pain.

The researchers manually reviewed nearly 7,100 files at the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario. They then linked these files with provincial data on physician visits and medication prescribing. They also analyzed data from IMS Health Canadaan organization that tracks the sales of prescription drugs.

Here are the researchers' key findings:

  • Prescriptions for oxycodone rose by more than 850 per cent during the study period. This increase was much larger than for any other opioid. Oxycodone accounted for about one-third of the almost 7.2 million prescriptions for opioids dispensed in Ontario in 2006.

  • The increase in deaths was especially pronounced after OxyContin was added to the provincial drug benefit plan in 2000. Over the next five years, deaths related to any opioid increased by 41 per cent, and the number of deaths related to oxycodone (the active
    '/>"/>

Contact: Julie Saccone
sacconej@smh.toronto.on.ca
416-864-5047
St. Michael's Hospital
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Global Measles Deaths Drop By 78%, But Resurgence Likely
2. Ninety Percent of All Vaccine Preventable Deaths Occur in Those 65 and Older According to Highlighted Studies in the December Patient Safety Advisory
3. USPSTF mammography recommendations will result in countless unnecessary breast cancer deaths each year
4. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Urges Policies and Prevention To Reduce Deaths from Venous Thromboembolism
5. Flu Deaths Higher Among Seniors With Dementia
6. 17,000 Child Deaths Linked to Lack of Insurance
7. Cholesterol Drugs May Help Prevent Flu Deaths
8. Anesthesia, Exertional Heat Deaths May Be Linked
9. Surgical Deaths Linked to Handling of Complications
10. CDC Links Infections With Swine Flu Deaths
11. 45,000 excess deaths annually linked to lack of health insurance: Harvard study
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/22/2013)... of the antidepressant Lexapro appears to help prevent ... study finds. The condition is known ... people with this condition may not develop noticeable ... blood supply, according to researchers from Duke University ... the researchers found that people taking the antidepressant ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter , , TUESDAY, ... Americans isn,t improving much, with about six in 10 ... in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking or not ... Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ... of the lifestyle choices that have led to soaring ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Roughly four in 10 ... pulmonary disease (COPD) actually do not have the lung ... Faulty diagnoses were made based on an evaluation of ... standard" disease test known as spirometry, which shows how ... amount of air they can exhale and how long ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 22, 2013 ... marketing agency, JD Media Surge, LLC, E-Dentists.com has ... subjects. The blog will feature numerous topics of ... on treatment options and dental health. , ... element of dental Internet marketing. In addition to ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Macedon, NY (PRWEB) May 22, 2013 ... other lean manufacturing improvements use the new Do-Done StepTracker ... coordination. “We use the Do-Done board to display the ... Each of our production cells and departments is listed ... top. As we start a project, the squares are ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Antidepressants May Be Helpful for Some Heart Patients: Study 2Health News:Antidepressants May Be Helpful for Some Heart Patients: Study 3Health News:Americans Still Making Unhealthy Choices: CDC 2Health News:Americans Still Making Unhealthy Choices: CDC 3Health News:COPD May Be Over-Diagnosed Among Uninsured 2Health News:Dental SEO Blog Launched by E-Dentists.com in Partnership with JD Media Surge, LLC 2Health News:Project Managers Organize Manufacturing Projects and Training with the New Steptracker Project Status Magnetic Whiteboards 2
... N.J., July 9 Red wine (resveratrol) pills appear to be ... to lead the way for patients and consumers to learn more ... do so. , , (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090709/LA44390 ) , ... of red wine pills, a local cardiology group says it will ...
... Today Americans United for Life (AUL) President & CEO Dr. ... members, urging them to ask Judge Sotomayor the "Top Ten" most ... the Court as the Senators prepare for her confirmation hearings to ... CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest said, "It,s important for the American people ...
... As part of its Patient Voices series, ... is featuring the stories of people from across the country who ... Patient Voices seeks to give a glimpse into the life ... diverse as the disease itself, and include actress/model and Lupus Foundation ...
... 1 diabetes or having a preceding infection are associated with more ... 49 years old, according to a Finnish study. Furthermore, heart failure ... cancer malignancy with 16 times the risk of death in stroke ... group, said Jukka Putaala, M.D., who led the study. Risk of ...
... The President of the American Chemical Society, ... President Obama,s nomination of Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., to ... other time in recent memory has there been such a ... of science to deliver solutions to the grand challenges facing ...
... hits $42 million a year , THURSDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) ... at least $42 million a year, a new study finds. , ... 100,000 young people annually, said Dr. Warren Lo, lead author of ... but there is growing concern about the cost of medical care ...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:Local Heart Doctors First in Nation to Announce Active Investigation of Red Wine (Resveratrol) Pills, Issue Consumer Precautions 2Health News:Local Heart Doctors First in Nation to Announce Active Investigation of Red Wine (Resveratrol) Pills, Issue Consumer Precautions 3Health News:Local Heart Doctors First in Nation to Announce Active Investigation of Red Wine (Resveratrol) Pills, Issue Consumer Precautions 4Health News:AUL President to Senate Judiciary Committee: Ask Top 10 Questions to Judge Sotomayor 2Health News:The New York Times Website Patient Voices Series Features People Affected by Lupus 2Health News:Stroke in Children Rare But Costly 2Health News:Stroke in Children Rare But Costly 3
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013 MEDIFIRST SOLUTIONS, INC. (OTCQB: MFST) ... about some recent company developments. As Medifirst continues to ... communication with shareholders. Integrating social media into its investor ... and will post updates on Twitter.  The Facebook homepage ... Says CEO Bruce J. ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... --  Life Line Screening  (LLS), a leading national ... of a unique partnership with MCM Solutions for ... a population health management organization. LLS will provide health ... important expanded services will help MCM and its clients ... cost of care when individuals are able to address ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... , May 22, 2013  Generex Biotechnology Corporation ... demonstrating the superiority of the AE37 breast cancer vaccine ... ( www.antigenexpress.com ). The presentations will be made at ... Oncology (ASCO) to be held in Chicago ... The presentation entitled " Booster inoculations of ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Medifirst Solutions, Inc. Announces Update To Shareholders 2Life Line Screening and MCM Solutions for Better Health Announce New Partnership 2Generex Announces ASCO Presentations on the Antigen Express Advanced Stage AE37 Cancer Vaccine 2Generex Announces ASCO Presentations on the Antigen Express Advanced Stage AE37 Cancer Vaccine 3Generex Announces ASCO Presentations on the Antigen Express Advanced Stage AE37 Cancer Vaccine 4
... reference laboratory and a worldwide leader in ... an extensive test menu of highly complex ... anatomic pathology. Owned by the University of ... half of the nation's university teaching hospitals ...
... Laboratories is a national reference laboratory and ... and development. ARUP offers an extensive test ... tests in clinical and anatomic pathology. Owned ... clients include more than half of the ...
... reference laboratory and a worldwide leader in ... an extensive test menu of highly complex ... anatomic pathology. Owned by the University of ... half of the nation's university teaching hospitals ...
... reference laboratory and a worldwide leader in ... an extensive test menu of highly complex ... anatomic pathology. Owned by the University of ... half of the nation's university teaching hospitals ...
Medicine Products: