Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Heroin use rises, spread feared
Experts lament injection-drug increase
Until now, heroin abuse was virtually unheard of in Manitoba. The worrisome trend coincides with a rise in injection-drug use in Winnipeg's core -- a phenomenon that surfaced in the past few months and puts more drug users at higher risk of overdose and infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.
Dr. Lindy Lee, director of Health Sciences Centre's addiction unit, said heroin abuse was extremely rare in the city until last year, when about one-fifth of her patients in detox reported injecting it. Before, Lee said, anyone who told her they used the highly addictive drug shot up in other cities such as Vancouver or Montreal.
"At least 20 people last year told me they'd used heroin in the city, some regularly, some only intermittently," Lee said. "I think it's just starting to get a toehold in Winnipeg and we'd like to see it disappear. I've seen people (who say) that heroin was their drug of choice."
In the last two years, front-line addiction workers have seen an alarming rise in the number of Manitobans addicted to opiates, notably prescription painkillers like OxyContin. The abuse is propagated by "drug shoppers" who visit multiple physicians for prescriptions, and the illicit resale of the drugs.
While the initial jump in opiate abuse occurred among middle-class suburban youth who crushed and snorted the pills, Lee said the second wave has spread to the inner city, where more addicts are using needles to inject the drugs and get high.
Laura Goossen, Winnipeg director of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, said the rise in injection-drug use is a huge concern, since users are at higher risk of contracting diseases from sharing needles or accidental overdose. There aren't enough treatment spaces to meet the demand, Goossen said, and people who want to get on methadone treatment to kick their opiate addiction have between a three- and 12-month wait. Right now, there are 147 people on the wait list.
Goossen said heroin has never been a problem in Winnipeg and it's hard to explain why its use has suddenly become more prevalent, along with IV drug abuse.
"It's a huge concern," Goossen said.
"Sometimes what people are using is determined by what's available. If there's no OxyContin, that might create a market for more heroin use."
Abuse has "snowballed," Lee said, and more people are experimenting with extracting and injecting fentanyl from pain patches that contain that opiate, with devastating results. Lee said that she knows of at least eight of 13 deaths from opiates in 2009 that were due to fentanyl, including several people who were her former patients or close friends of patients she's treated.
There's also been a slight increase in the number of patients injecting the "poor man's speedball" of Talwin and Ritalin -- two prescription drugs that, when injected, can cause serious infections and progressive lung disease from its chalky residue.
Lee said she worries that people may turn to heroin if the health system cracks down on drug shoppers who prey on physicians to dole out the painkillers.
"More of them are injecting and sometimes you see husband, wife, adult children using together," Lee said.
"We've created an addictive market with opiates. If we even tighten up on the other prescription opiates, will people search out heroin?"
jen.skerritt@freepress.mb.ca
What is heroin?
Heroin is an opiate made from morphine, a naturally occurring substance that comes from the opium poppy plant. When it is injected into a vein, it takes only seconds to take effect. People addicted to heroin must inject the drug every six to 12 hours to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Why are opiates so
addictive?
Part of the reason addicts can't stop craving opiates is the high wears off after frequent use. Users feel the need to keep taking the drug to ward off the severe symptoms of withdrawal, including vomiting, diarrhea, and leg cramps.
Patients have two options -- detox and abstain, or get on the wait list for methadone treatment.
What is methadone?
Methadone is a synthetic opiate that suppresses symptoms of withdrawal, but is tightly controlled. Addicts must drink their methadone in front of a clinician, and are subject to urine screens to ensure they're not using other drugs or alcohol.
Increased demand for methadone treatment in Manitoba has resulted in long waits for treatment -- more than 130 people are waiting to get into the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba's methadone intervention and needle exchange. Overall, there are between 650 and 700 Manitobans on methadone treatment for opiate addiction.
--Source: Health Canada/Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 11, 2010 B1
The comment period for this story has ended.
-
Breaking News Alerts
Sign up for our new Breaking News Alerts
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins
-
Winnipeg road closures
Check if your commute is affected
-
Blogs to Watch
We pick our favourite local blogs for you to follow
-
Breaking News Widget
Create and embed a Winnipeg Free Press breaking news widget on your site or blog
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and news feeds on Twitter
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular
- Passerby thwarts sex assault
- One sister dead, other faces charge in stabbing
- Hectic night as police chase gunplay
- Shunned after fling with daughters' friend
- Body found in Red River
- Foul play not suspected after body pulled from Red
- Oh, Zsuzsanna
- An NDP government likely wouldn't spell a quick death for B.C.'s HST
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- Bombers fall 27-23 to Roughriders
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- 'Nothing short of a miracle' at how well missing woman fared
- Couple in unwanted spotlight
- Expanded weather warnings issued ahead of hurricane Earl
- Families find Manitoba's first jellyfish
- Homicide unit investigating fatal fall
- Dirty secret not so secret in city's legal community
- Shunned after fling with daughters' friend
- Ice Edge eyes Thunder Bay, looks to advise new Coyotes owner
- Angry mob beats couple with bats, sticks
- Boyfriend's porno secret discovered
- Major downpour floods streets, knocks out power
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- Woman dead after apparent fall from downtown high-rise
- Pedestrian dies after collision with truck
- Illegal channel irks cottagers
- Severe weather enters Manitoba
- Jennifer's body
- 'Nothing short of a miracle' at how well missing woman fared
- Earls on Main fined $4,000, loses liquor licence for a day
- Hectic night as police chase gunplay
- Bombers fall 27-23 to Roughriders
- Enough for a passport, but not MPI
- Passerby thwarts sex assault
- Foul play not suspected after body pulled from Red
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- Trouble waiting in on-deck circle if Goldeyes don't wise up
- The man who'll shape our skyline
- Pierce to lead Bombers in Labour Day Classic
- Lions cut Hefney loose
- Enough for a passport, but not MPI
- Swan defends himself and police, offends victim
- Ice Edge eyes Thunder Bay, looks to advise new Coyotes owner
- Shunned after fling with daughters' friend
- Wasylycia-Leis alleges Katz interference in info requests
- Hotel buyouts in core for fewer drunks?
- Man struck by transit bus
- New stretch of skywalks opens
- 'Nothing short of a miracle' at how well missing woman fared
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- Care denied after fee not paid
- RM denies permission for group home
- Just a sec, say traffic activists
- Band threatens to block access to Whiteshell
- Canopy opens can of worms
- Brian really was lyin'
- Wasylycia-Leis pledges to launch two new crime-fighting programs
- Toews says ship carrying migrants a 'test boat'
- Group home residents aren't the scary ones
- RM wrong to run New Directions out of town
- No men in the pews? Could be church's fault
- History BY THE SLICE
- Hungry in New York? Book a trip to Eataly
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- First Nation fraud case encouraging
- Man drowns as Earl yanks trees from their roots, downs power lines on East Coast
- Bug wars
- An NDP government likely wouldn't spell a quick death for B.C.'s HST
- Jean's day goes to arts
- Do MS therapy trials now, researcher urges
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- Families find Manitoba's first jellyfish
- Oh, Zsuzsanna
- Polar bear takes dip in river at Shamattawa
- Judge disclosed 'problem'
- Cute Alert! Zoo unveils panda cubs
- Airport plan grounded
- Spin on the river turns adventurous
- Bar association slams CBC over judge sex scandal coverage
- Housing bubble threat resurfaces as prices in major markets hit 30-year highs
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- Dashcam video shows car flying into overpass, being reduced to parts; driver critical
- Families find Manitoba's first jellyfish
- Tiny 10-year-old stuns judges, audience with huge voice
- Oh, Zsuzsanna
- Hands-free accidents waiting to happen
- N.D. clinic to offer controversial MS screening
- Green slime can be toxic, experts say
- Best films in Hollywood history to be shown on big screen
- True North unveils new exhibition hall
Events
September 5, 2010
9th Winnipeg Marian Eucharistic Conference
“I am with you always, until the end of the world”(Mt 28:20). Come and listen to seven dynamic, inspiring speakers (Fr.Iannuzzi, was ass’t to Fr. Amorth, chief exorcist of Rome; Susan Tassone on the ...
10 Comments
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Posted by: scooter
January 12, 2010 at 2:20 AM
@ Chris Buors.. again for the defender of all consumer drugs albeit illegal ones today. So, you think Heroin and Oxy should be legal in addition to weed? Ever know anyone who takes OXY for just the pain or do they pop them all day long? Take one and get little buzz, keep going huh? Alcohol can kill you fairly easily and quick enough if you consume enough of it BUT it's easier to control than if society allowed all what you'd like to have legalized. Doesn't matter if coffee costs what it does and then you use such a ridiculous example as cocaine it proves my point. You don't hear about gangs or dealers getting nailed for dealing in coffee unless you own a Robin's coffee shop huh?
Chris Buors, I think we'd have made a huge mistake had you won in the election before, how embarrassing it would have been for Canada with the attitude you often spout-yep, let's just abolish all the laws for the illicit drugs and it'll be all business and everyone will get along. Too bad some would be greedier than others and nobody would ever be in court for anything relating to that either. Everyone knows someone who has been nailed in some way, some who post on here have been involved more than others and they're fighting a 100% losing cause and I'm confident our govt. will never give in-in fact I know they'll never leaglize any of it and that's how it should be!
I did look up Wikipedia and I like that even "A" Joe Citizen is listed there.....hmmm.... also like jus.gov.mb.ca
Posted by: johnny b good
January 11, 2010 at 6:13 PM
I am not surprised that these drugs in addition to the "regular " ones like "coke, crack etc" are becoming more readily available. I noticed in the last large "gang" bust there was some heroin mentioned. With our slack laws and inability to prosecute them I feel that much more money making gangster activity seeking markets for their "products" will happen.
As far as highly addictive "opiates" we should take the stance England did some time ago and have it so that if you are addicted, rather than have you steal 2000$ woth of stuff a day to support your habit and cost insurance millions.... you can buy what you need for a under 10$ and perhaps go to work for the rest of the day.... and... it becomes a non-lucrative product as well....
Just a thought
Posted by: mbsmiles
January 11, 2010 at 5:04 PM
Oh no! this is not good,why is it here and who has ties to bring this in our Winnipeg? Whom treats the peoples for one purpose to stay afloat in unpaid taxes? By whom? Then what biz, what clinic? what hospital? Why? now?
Who in the heck decided a market for such terror? This is a weakend end for a fight to stay on the planet most will be induced to laydown there bearsprays, there clubs, there purse snatchin grabin greedy bent influenced minds to say brains are now part of a tour of science in 2022 88% percent fell to a lasp of luxerious make shift life in the estates of cardboard mansions. Tears are now on Winnipeg.
Posted by: Chris Buors
January 11, 2010 at 1:32 PM
still-fighting-for-a-future
The worst drunks in Manitoba seem to have no problem staying in that condition by bumming money on the streets. Bottles of wine are cheap enough for even the worst drunks to afford without resorting to crime, albeit we do hear of the occasion robbery for a six pack.
Legal Heroin would be very cheap. Maybe a buck a hit. Users could grow their own poppies and cultivate their own opium just like smokers can grow their own tobacco and boozer can brew their own theses days. Lots of beer comes out of those mixes that sit in a 5 gallon heated vat....cheap like borscht!
I often cite coffee and cocaine come from the same places. Coffee goes for anywhere from $4 to $15 a pound. That's what cocaine would cost on the free market. Heroin should be priced according to what the market can afford to pay too.
Posted by: still-fighting-for-a-future
January 11, 2010 at 11:28 AM
this is to Chris Buors
i agree let them do what they want,
but its the fact that people will go do anything to get money for the drug
which is a rise in crime,
Posted by: Chris Buors
January 11, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Just_Bizzy
You would lose that bet.
From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Afghanistan
Rise of the Taliban (1994–2001)
During the Taliban rule, Afghanistan saw a bumper opium crop of 4,500 metric tons in 1999,[7]. In July 2000, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar declared that growing poppies was un-Islamic, resulting in one of the world's most successful anti-drug campaigns. As a result of this ban, opium poppy cultivation was reduced by 91% from the previous year's estimate of 82,172 hectares. The ban was so effective that Helmand Province, which had accounted for more than half of this area, recorded no poppy cultivation during the 2001 season.
Gee......it looks like the so-called "terrorists" were running the worlds most brutal and therefore successful anti-drug campaign the world had ever seen before the Americans forced the Taliban to take to the hills.
Not a single user went without as poppy production moved to South American countries where they were already producing cocaine when the opportunity to produce Heroin opened up.
Bottom line, it would take a government as brutal as the police state the Taliban ran to do anything about drug use here in Canada.
I think we are better off letting the 1000 or less Manitobans interested in doing Heroin have at er than turning Canada into an even worse police state than it already is.
Posted by: Chris Buors
January 11, 2010 at 10:53 AM
The people who do die will likely die of ignorance rather than drugs.
Why not repeal prohibition and let people buy all the Heroin or Oxycontin or anything else they want?
You are not your brothers keeper. What business is it of yours if the neighbors want to use heroin or drink themselves to death?
It's none of your business if they want to spend all their money at the Casino so why is it your business if they want to spend their money on drugs?
We would be better off assuring those drug users a clean pharmaceutical supply rather than forcing them to buy drugs of unknown purity from the streets. We would be better off if drug users got their information from pharmacists instead of their just as ignorant peers.
The purpose of drug prohibition is to save souls.
We would repeal drug prohibition if the focus were on saving lives.
Posted by: wpg_guy204
January 11, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Joe, if someone out there really wanted to start using heroin don't you think they would beacause of other factors, not because they read it in the paper?
I think getting the info out there is great. Especially in a city and society where we still think stoners are the biggest evil-doers out there.
Posted by: Just_Bizzy
January 11, 2010 at 9:52 AM
I am willing to bet that this rise in Heroin use is directly proportional to the increase in opium production in the failed narco-state of Afghanistan. Either way the Terrorists are hurting us.
Posted by: Joe
January 11, 2010 at 8:40 AM
Good story, but there are some concerns. Someone who is reading this now knows to crush pills, and which pills, to snort them & get stoned.
And, if this trend does start up & become worse than what it is, you can be assured that there will be more street muggings & robberies, store holdups, break & enters...etc...etc...for those people who need cash to get the heroin they addicted themselves to.
And, as this may be/or is going to be a popilardrug of choice at some patries, raves and whatnot, the number of (possible/probable) young people getting addicted will rise, and more lives will be lost or ruined as a result.