The Alarming Facts about Opioid Misuse

Avoiding Abuse, Achieving a Balance: Tackling the Opioid Public Health Crisis
A 46 page report from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

The report includes THIRTY-ONE recommendations
Here's a brief snippet:

The popular prescription drug OxyContin (oxycodone) is the most easily procured opioid for non-medical use in Toronto’s street drug scene.7 There has been a steep and unprecedented increase in the number of individuals seeking treatment for oxycodone addiction since controlled-release (long-acting) oxycodone products became available in 1995. The number of admissions at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) MedicalWithdrawal Management Service seeking treatment for opioid detoxification related to controlled release oxycodone went from 3.8% of opioid admissions in 2000 to 55.4% in 2004. There has been a steep and unprecedented increase in the number of individuals seeking treatment for oxycodone addiction since controlled-release (long-acting) oxycodone products became available in 1995.

CAMH found that among Ontario high school students, one fifth reported using opioids or at least one prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription in 2009, compared to only 12% of students surveyed who reported smoking cigarettes.

Deaths due to oxycodone have risen from 35 in 2002 to 119 in 2006, a rise of 240%. The steep increase in the diversion of these drugs to the illicit drug market is also troubling.

This public health crisis will continue to escalate if the contributing problems are not addressed.(emphasis added)

Here's a older article speaking directly about London's Oxy issues.

Solutions to oxycodone addiction

Provided by: Sun Media
Written by: RANDY RICHMOND
Oct. 31, 2007

While the price of ending the abuse of oxycodone-based painkiller drugs in London could be in the millions of dollars, the payoff, too, could be huge.