Pubdate: Thu, 29 Sep 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Page: A10

ADDICTION OVERLOOKED

The startling numbers of deaths from illicit drug overdoses, mainly
related to fentanyl, have put B.C.'s medical system into crisis mode.
Although deaths have declined each month since January, the increase
over last year (year to date) is more than 60 per cent. At least 488
people have died so far this year compared with 505 in all of 2015.

Health authorities on the front lines of this crisis have stepped up
distribution of naloxone kits (the antidote that blocks the fatal
effects of fentanyl), which are available at more than 300 sites
across B.C., including federal and provincial correctional facilities
and hospital emergency departments (see towardtheheart.com/
site-locator for locations).

Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care provide them to
people at risk of opioid overdose at no charge. VCH alone dispensed
2,250 free take-home naloxone kits between January and August this
year. They cost $50 at pharmacies.

But treating an overdose is not the same as treating addiction, and
the latter is where all levels of government should direct their
attention. Border security has the responsibility to keep bad drugs
out of the country while RCMP and local law enforcement are charged
with keeping them out of the hands of dealers. Municipalities that
have prematurely licensed businesses selling illegal drugs have
compromised crucial police work.

Health and social services try to repair the damage already done,
partly through supervised injection sites and substitution drug
therapy, but it is a monumental task. Advocates have requested more
funding for treatment and the province should make every effort to
deliver on campaign promises to add treatment beds without
jeopardizing B.C.'s excellent public finance record. There is evidence
it costs taxpayers less to house and treat addicts (and the mentally
ill) than to deal with the emergency ward visits, crime and social
disorder they cause.

It is easier to prevent addiction than to cure it, but scant attention
has been paid to personal responsibility. Making a poor choice should
not lead to a death sentence, of course, but neither should drug users
be absolved of all blame.

We've been told it takes less than a week to become addicted to
opioids. It takes but a minute for young people to say no to a drug
that has killed so many in such a short time.
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MAP posted-by: Matt