The government of New Brunswick has announced it will set up a system to track prescription drugs in the province after a new study showed prescription-drug abuse to be a bigger problem than the use of heroin.

The study, published in Tuesday's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, showed that heroin in 2005 wasn't even a factor among injection drug abusers in Fredericton, and it was barely noticeable in Edmonton and Quebec City.

Health Minister Mike Murphy said Wednesday the new monitoring system should be in place by the end of next year. He said there are several reasons it will take so long.

"Part of it is the software and the computer systems in pharmacies and in some of the places that this will be placed, and also the setup of the system through computers, and of course the financing of it. It takes awhile."

The monitoring of drug sales will prevent patients from getting prescriptions for the same drug from different doctors, a common practice among abusers.

However, a University of New Brunswick researcher said the government should be careful as it develops the system.

Dr. Barbara Paterson, who was involved in the study showing increased prescription-drug abuse, said New Brunswick does need to track prescriptions for opioid drugs, such as Dilaudid, OxyContin, Demerol and Percodan.

But she noted that monitoring may scare some doctors away from prescribing to patients with a legitimate need.

"I know, that some of the people that are involved in the development of this system are concerned that there might be an untoward outcome that may cause the physicians not to prescribe."

Because of this, Paterson said, whatever system is put in place, it needs to be flexible — and doctors must be involved in its development.