Published: May 26, 2007 11:52 pm      

Methadone

Leading cause of death in overdoses

In more than 40 percent of Kentucky’s 484 overdose cases in 2006, methadone was detected.

In Madison County, it is detected in nearly all of them.

“Just about any time I’m doing any kind of drug-related death, we’re seeing methadone in there,” said Jimmy Cornelison, Madison County coroner. “I would be surprised if it wasn’t (the leading cause of overdose death).”

A report was issued Monday by the Office of the State Medical Examiner which indicated that 197 deaths across the state in 2006 were related to the misuse of methadone. As a result, the Office of Drug Control Policy in Kentucky has determined methadone as the leading cause of death in overdose victims last year — and the numbers are climbing.

“Prescription drug overdoses in general, and methadone overdoses in particular, claim a large number of lives each year in the commonwealth,” said Dr. Tracey Corey, Kentucky chief medical examiner.

The mother of a 19-year-old methadone overdose victim, Latonya Hager of Berea, said she was surprised by the report.

“Those numbers are staggering,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Hager’s son, Drew Ramey, died Nov. 19, 2005, in Richmond after taking a deadly concoction of methadone and Xanax. It still hurts to hear that these drugs are taking the lives of others across the state, just like her son, she said.

“I feel the pain of the other moms and dads who have lost their children to this, and of course, the children who have lost their parents,” Hager said.

When used as it is intended for pain relief, Cornelison said methadone does a good job. The drug also is prescribed in Kentucky as treatment for heroin users.

“The only problem is, methadone is harder to get off of than heroin,” Cornelison said. “If you talk to old heroin users they will tell you that. What we see now is not necessarily the amount, it is the accumulative effect of different drugs.”

The Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system (KASPER), indicated that “neither the number of prescriptions filled in Kentucky for methadone, nor the number of dosage units prescribed have changed significantly from 2003 through 2006,” according to the release.

However, methadone-related deaths nationwide have multiplied nearly five times in five years — from 780 in 1999 to 3,800 in 2004, the release states.

“To me it is like a firearm,” Cornelison said. “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people with firearms. If not used appropriately, it’s the same thing with drugs. It is your weapon of choice.”

Methadone is not solely showing up on toxicology reports for overdose victims, Cornelison said. It also is being found when investigating accident and traumatic deaths as well.

In October last year, Cornelison said the Madison County coroner’s office had worked more than two dozen drug-related deaths. Already this year, Cornelison said he has seen several methadone-related deaths and still has a few pending cases. If statistics continue this year as they have through the first five months, Cornelison said the number of methadone-related deaths could surpass those of last year.

“It’s a shame it took this many deaths to wake up Kentucky, to wake up Madison County. But with education, we can actually do some prevention now. This report shows me that we are on our way to helping other people.”

The ODCP is planning seminars for both the general public and health care professionals to do just that, according to the release.

“Regional and local medical societies and health departments may help reduce this tragic loss of life by making patients and physicians aware of the possibility of accidental fatal overdose associated with the use of prescription narcotics, especially when used in concert with other prescription drugs,” Corey said.

Laurie Dudgeon, ODCP executive director, agreed.

“It is important to get the message out and warn the citizens of Kentucky about the misuse of methadone,” she said. “I urge all members of law enforcement, hospitals, poison control centers and emergency medical technicians to continue educating themselves on the effects and symptoms associated with methadone abuse. The seriousness of methadone overdose and its possible consequences cannot be overemphasized.”

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.