Ontario to hold inquest into methadone death

The province is holding an inquest into the death of an Ottawa drug addict who was inadvertently given an overdose of methadone last October.

Wade Hatt, a 41-year-old father of two, was under treatment at a methadone-treatment program in Ottawa when he died after receivinga dose of methadone 10 times higher than normal.

Methadone is a sometimes controversial but widely used drug that mimics the effects of heroin and other opiates. It is used to wean people off drugs such as the painkillers that Hatt was addicted to.

Dr. James Cairns, Ontario's deputy chief coroner of investigations, told CBC News the inquest will examine the use of methadone in drug-addiction cases.

"They'll be hearing the evidence and the issues about methadone prescribing, and the issues if someone is given the wrong amount of methadone what should and should not be done," Cairns said. "I think the broader issues will come out as a result of that evidence."

The inquest is expected to begin at the end of October and last one week.