Health Dr. David Elias has been studying increase in and consequences of inappropriate use of prescription drugs since 2002

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ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

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ROTHESAY - What started out as a personal crusade will get international attention on Wednesday for a Rothesay doctor.

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Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-Journal

Dr. David Elias of Rothesay will be giving a lecture at the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions annual convention and the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada Learning symposium in Vancouver on Wednesday.

David Elias will present his findings on opioid management during the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions annual convention and the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada Learning symposium.

The event got underway Saturday in Vancouver and runs through Thursday.

Elias' presentation concerns the opioid management program he developed and was implemented by WorkSafeNB. The group is a Crown corporation that administers no-fault workplace accident and disability insurance and comprehensive accident prevention health and safety initiatives for employers and their workers.

Elias - who moved to Rothesay 10 years ago - said he began his work concerning the increase in and consequences of inappropriate use of prescription drugs in 2002.

Specifically, the use of drugs referred to as opioids such as Oxycontin, Vicodin and Dilaudid.

Having worked as a pharmacist, family doctor, emergency room physician and a case manager in both the public and private sector, Elias said he's seen the problem from all sides.

"Seeing all the consequences, the increased dependency and addiction, I took on my own little personal crusade in the area," Elias said.

He tried lobbying the provincial government back in 2002 to implement a prescription drug monitoring program, but wasn't successful. From there he began to increase awareness of the issue in the medical community. During this time, he and a partner developed a management process to help control prescription drugs. They're currently waiting for a patent. The work got the attention of WorkSafeNB and he developed a program in conjunction with the group that was implemented in 2007.

While the program is detailed, Elias said one of the benefits is both pharmacists and family doctors of a worker prescribed an opioid go through a process describing all aspects of the drug to the patient.

"They teach them about the side effects and how to properly take the medication," Elias said.

He has been tracking the results of the program and said while the results are preliminary, they're promising.

"We're starting to see what we consider promising trends," he said.

"The outcomes are suggesting we're running into less addictions and dependency issues.

"We feel we're spotting some potential problems, so not only are the workers benefitting, but the rest of the province as well."

Because of the management program in conjunction with WorkSafeNB, Elias was asked to present his program and findings at the international conference in Vancouver.

"Hopefully by presenting our results we can empower other agencies to take a similar approach."