Methadone program linked to son's death: mom

A mother is blaming her teenage son's death on Newfoundland and Labrador's methadone treatment program.

Mount Pearl resident Michelle Mitchum saidsomeone illegally sold her son, Colton, 16, a bottle of methadone in early June.

He came home early on the morning of June 5, went to bed and never woke up.

"Devastated. Unbelievable, that he would be gone out of my life at 16 years old," Mitchum told CBC News.

"And I'm very angry."

Methadone is used to help people addicted to such drugs as OxyContin resume normal lives.Methadone satisfies the body's craving for a fix, but does not provide the euphoria that illegal drugs often produce.

Normally, patients who receive methadone do so under supervision at a pharmacy.

However, some participants in the treatment program can be prescribed as many as six days worth ofthe drug.

Mitchum said some of those supplies are on the street in the St. John's area, and she wants the practice of providing extra supplies to be stopped.

"There's enough drugs out there without the government or the pharmacists and doctors allowing someone to take this," Mitchum said in an interview.

Bottle of methadonehas $90 street value

Officials admit that some methadone is finding its way to sales on the street, where a single bottle can fetch as much as $90.

Don Rowe, the secretary registrar of the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board, said Friday it is rare that someone is able to take what are called "carry doses" of methadone home with them.

"Carry doses are meant or intended to be an award for compliance with the program, confirming that you're stable and adhering to the requirements of the treatment program and so forth," he said.

"Generally they're only granted after you've demonstrated that stability for at least two or three months or so."

Rowe said the longer a patient demonstrates good behaviour, the more carry doses they can have, and that it is a judgment call on behalf of the physician.

Rowe said he does not want to see everyone punished because some are abusing the system.