Pubdate: Mon, 04 Dec 2017
Source: Sun Times, The (Owen Sound, CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Owen Sound Sun Times
Contact: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/letters
Website: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1544
Author: Don Crosby
Page: A1

OPIOID CRISIS IS HERE TOO

Ontario is in the middle of an opioid crisis, Grey Bruce Health Unit
program director Lynda Bumstead and Hope Grey Bruce member Dave Roy
told Brockton council.

Bumstead said one person dies every 10 hours in Ontario from an opioid
overdose. In 2016, there were eight deaths in Grey Bruce linked to
opioid overdose.

"There are many, many more individuals suffering from overdoses and
addictions every day in Grey and Bruce," Bumstead told council last
week. Overdoses due to opioids killed more people in 2014 than car
accidents, and the number of deaths due to opioid overdose continues
to rise.

In Grey-Bruce, opioid-related hospital visits have tripled since 2003.
Grey-Bruce has a high rate of hospitalizations when compared with
other counties in Ontario.

The issue of opioid use shows no signs of abating and has led to an
explosion of fatal overdoses - from both prescription and illicit
forms of opioids, said Bumstead, who noted that he most common causes
of opioid addiction and overdose are due to abuse of prescription
drugs. She said public health officials are targeting the medical and
dental professions in their information campaign.

Roy urged compassion when it comes to dealing with those abusing
opioids.

He said there are plans to address all of the municipal councils in
Grey-Bruce along with the two county councils in hopes of raising
public awareness.

Roy noted there are harm reduction measures in place across GreyBruce
including the two needle exchange site in Walkerton at a pharmacy and
the Walkerton hospital. There are 13 full time and three part time
counsellors in Grey Bruce as well as the Rapid Access Addiction
Medicine Clinic in Owen Sound.

Hope Grey Bruce, a mental addiction and addictions service also has
addiction services in Hanover.

Bumstead also touched on the dangers of marijuana use. With the
legalization of cannabis set to take place July 1, 2018, she warned
that its use could spread and measures need to be put in place to
minimize the risk of harm. In Ontario the legal age will be 19 years
old.

"I think as a whole community we need to be getting ready for it . . .
we have to look at how we are going to support prevention measures and
make sure our youth are aware of the issues that can come with
cannabis. As a whole community we need to look at the implications we
will have in our community by the legalization," she said.

Roy said there is some concern that legalization of marijuana will
result in increased use among youth.

He also expects to see a return by baby boomers who will go back to
using again now that it's legal.

"We don't really know where that is going," Roy said.

Bumstead said she was disappointed that the provincial government had
not taken the recommendation of the health unit to set the legal age
for cannabis use at 25, since the brain doesn't complete development
before that time.

"To introduce cannabis prior to that has some implications on brain
development . . . the important thing is to ensure that the cannabis
available to youth is safe. It's a harm reduction approach," she said.

She noted municipalities will have a say in where distribution of
marijuana takes place.

As of July 1 cannabis will be legally available for sale in Barrie,
Kitchener and London.

"There will still be online purchases available," Bumstead
said.

Roy said he's concerned that the legalization of marijuana normalizes
its use in society.

"We already have concerns with young people feeling that cannabis is a
benign substance and no harm is associated with it at all, and that is
not the truth. So we're to keep doing what we've always done and take
the harm reduction approach and make sure that they have as much
information as possible," Roy said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt