TORONTO - Ontario's doctors say the province is in the midst of a public health crisis in battling the misuse of opioids.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario released a report today on the abuse of the pain medications, such as OxyContin.
It says Ontario is behind other jurisdictions in the fight to curb opioid misuse, but adds if the report's 31 recommendations are implemented it would put the province way ahead.
Health Minister Deb Matthews recently announced plans to launch a new tracking system to monitor prescription narcotics and other controlled substances.
The authors of the report say that's a good first step, but the province needs to do more, as do physicians and the justice system.
Ontario's deputy chief coroner, Dr. Bert Lauwers, says Ontario has seen an alarming rise in oxycodone deaths: 240 per cent from 2002 to 2006.
