England Governors Meet
With Canadian Premiers To Discuss Fighting Opioid Addiction
By Dr.Fourkan Ali
The
state and province leaders are set to discuss collaborating efforts to stop
opioid trafficking and fighting back against the current drug crisis.
The 40th annualConference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian
Premiers took place this week
in Boston, and the opiate epidemic was high on the list of topics for
discussion, as officials from both sides of the border tried to figure out ways
to stem the flow of heroin and other opioids in their communities.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker hopes to bring the Canadian
premiers (from five of Canada's provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland &
Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec) into the "Compact
to Fight Opioid Addiction," an agreement that was ratified by the National
Governors Association in July.
The agreement calls for a “coordinated approach between states
to combat the opioid epidemic, including collaboration with law enforcement to
end opioid trafficking,” according to the Boston Herald.
The extent of New England's opiate abuse problem has made it a key topic of discussion. “[Opioids have] been
a regular talking point between New England governors for the last four
years,” said Connecticut Gov.
Dannel Malloy.
Like many American states, Canada has also seen a sharp rise in
opiate overdoses, particularly of fentanyl. “This
is the worst drug I’ve seen in my career,” said Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta,
the head of the Calgary police drug unit. “This is absolutely the worst drug
I’ve ever seen because of how toxic it is. The equivalent of two grains of sand
will kill you, quickly.”
In British Columbia, there has been a ten-fold increase in fentanyl-related overdoses since 2012. In response, there has
been movement across Canada to increase access to lifesaving treatments and to
identify long-term treatment plans that work.
In May, Ontario and Canada's capital city, Ottawa, joined
British Columbia and Alberta in offering free naloxone over the counter without
a prescription. While the move was heralded, it was also seen as just one of
many policy changes needed to stem the opiate crisis. “I don’t want anyone
to think that extending naloxone coverage is the magic wand that’s going to
obliterate the opioid crisis,” Michael Parkinson, a community engagement
coordinator told the Globe and Mail. “It’s just one key tool in the toolbox.”
The Canadian federal government is even considering an amendment that would allow prescription heroin to be
legalized for use in medication-assisted treatment plans. “A significant
body of scientific evidence supports the medical use of diacetylmorphine, also
known as pharmaceutical-grade heroin, for the treatment of chronic relapsing
opioid dependence,” Health Canada, the country’s federal health agency, said in
a statement in May.
Sources - The Fix
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