Addressing Economic Management as a Tool in Battling the Canadian Opioid Crisis
In a hard-hitting piece recently published in the Times Colonist, ‘We Need to Manage the Economy Correctly’, the authors make a cogent argument that the solution to the Canadian opioid crisis lies, surprisingly, in proper economic management.
Social Disorders and Economic Policies
“Economics,” the article states, “is a discipline that concerns itself with money, consumption, production and exchange. But can it also help explain phenomena such as addiction, crime, and homelessness?” Through an in-depth exploration of this concept, the piece forwards the idea that the management of these social disorders cannot be simply left to crime prevention or public health initiatives. Instead, the authors insist, economic policies that factor in the socio-economic conditions of marginalized populations must form part of the solution.
Linking Economic Deprivation to the Opioid Crisis
The authors assert that economic deprivation and the destitution that results is a major playing factor in the opioid crisis. Communities hard-hit by the opioid crisis also tend to be characterized by low levels of education, high rates of unemployment, and increased crime rates. By addressing these socio-economic markers, the chances of opioid addiction can be significantly reduced.
Addressing the Opioid Crisis Holistically through Economic Reforms
The piece goes on to suggest specific economic reforms that would attenuate the reach of the opioid crisis, including:
– Implementing a basic income guarantee, which will provide individuals with sufficient income to cover their basic needs.
– Investing in mental health and addiction programs, to directly address the opioid crisis.
– Supporting education and job programs in marginalized communities, thereby reducing socioeconomic barriers.
– Passing policies that make naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, more accessible.
Need for Collaborative Efforts
While much of the onus is placed on economic reforms, the authors also highlight the need for an orchestrated, cross-disciplinary effort to combat the opioid crisis. This includes participation from medical professionals, law enforcement agencies, social workers, and community organizations.
Opioid Class Action – A Wake-Up Call
The article also briefly discusses the ongoing opioid class action suits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The authors suggest that these suit represent an important moment in the fight against the opioid crisis, as they bring the role of pharmaceutical companies in exacerbating the crisis to the fore.
Key Points
The unique perspective offered by this article include:
– The interconnection between economic deprivation and the opioid crisis.
– The value of an economic policy that includes adequate supports for marginalized populations.
– Inclusion of socioeconomic improvement measures as a part of a holistic plan to fight the opioid crisis.
– The need for collaborative efforts across different sectors.
– Significance of the opioid class action suits.
Final Remarks
From the standpoint of this blog, the bigger picture painted in this article is one of deep interconnections between social disorders and economic policies. The opioid crisis, homelessness, crime; these are not standalone spectres. They are intimately tied to socio-economic conditions – conditions that can and must be amenable to reform. If we fundamentally understand the opioid crisis as a symptom of a wider societal malaise, and not an isolated problem, we will be more successful in mitigating it. So yes, we do need to manage our economy correctly, as a matter of human dignity and as an antidote to the Canadian opioid crisis.
