The opioid crisis in Canada is worsening as it enters its eighth year, with the number of opioid-related deaths showing little sign of decreasing despite promises and investments by both federal and provincial governments. Last week, three provinces came together in the hopes that a new approach will help combat the crisis. Heather Yourex-West reports as the crisis quietly continues to ravage the country.
There’s been a steady increase in the number of inmates receiving opioid agonist treatment since Correctional Service Canada began to really see the growth of the opioid epidemic in 2016. In December 2016, nine per cent of inmates were getting opioid agonist treatment, climbing to 15 per cent at the end of 2021.“When the opioid overdose epidemic essentially started in 2016, 2017, both the health authorities, communities, prison services were quite challenged with the rapid increase,” said Dr.
“It corresponds with what most of us know who have been working in and around the prison system for many years, that when people have access to the things they need, what a big surprise, they’re less likely to anesthetize themselves with drugs.” Wilkins, who has been a corrections officer for two decades, said, that he and his members are seeing more drugs in jails. With the increased drug supply, he said overdoses have “doubled” over the last year.Castaways rescued from deserted island by writing ‘HELP’ in palm leaves
Two-thirds of the time, contributing substances were not identified. When a drug is known, opioids were most frequently identified as the cause at 36 per cent, followed by prescription medication at 19 per cent.
Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)
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