The Opioid Crisis in Calgary: A Deep Dive into its Effects and Efforts to Combat it

As the opioid crisis across Canada escalates, it is crucial for us to understand the challenges and mitigating strategies in place. In this blog post, we examine a recent event spearheaded by the Victoria Police Department, where they successfully seized thousands of suspected opioid pills and merchandise worth $48,000. This event underlines the urgency with which we must address the repercussions of the opioid crisis in various communities, particularly in Calgary.

Understanding the Calgary Opioid Crisis

A closer examination of the opioid crisis in Calgary reveals a complex issue that has far-reaching impacts on the local population, significantly affecting public health, exacerbating homelessness, and leading to increased crime rates. The ability to forge a path towards rectifying the opioids crisis hinges on addressing these key areas.

• Public health concerns:

  Opioids, when misused or abused, can lead to severe health complications, including fatal overdoses. According to the Alberta Government’s Opioid Response Surveillance Report, in 2020 alone, Alberta saw over 1,300 opioid-related deaths. Calgary specifically accounted for approximately 40 per cent of these fatalities.

• Homelessness:

  The opioid crisis is intricately linked with homelessness. Addiction often leads to job losses and financial instability, which can escalate to homelessness.

• Crime:

  The opioid crisis can encourage criminal behavior as those in the grip of addiction may resort to illicit activities to sustain their drug habits. This cycle of addiction and criminality has been a notable contributor to Calgary’s rising crime rates in recent years.

Combating the Opioids Crisis

The gravity of the opioid crisis calls for effective measures to contain and ultimately reduce its impact. Calgary has been proactive in its approach, with numerous strategies employed.

• Opioid Substance Use Response Team:

  This multidisciplinary team provides integrated, person-centered services to people living with substance use disorders. Its programs include mental health and substance use assessment, counselling, treatment planning, and naloxone kit training and distribution.

• Alberta’s Opioid Response Strategy:

  This strategy works on enhancing data and analytics to inform decision-making, improving prescription practices, protecting the public, and providing timely, coordinated access to harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.

• Canadian Opioid Abatement Class Action:

  The class action intends to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in instigating the opioid crisis, providing a legal recourse for communities affected by it. Calgary joined the class action in October 2019.

Closing Thoughts

The opioid crisis in Calgary continues to pose a serious challenge, necessitating concerted effort across all sectors. With concerted strategies like robust public health interventions, comprehensive support networks for those battling substance use disorders, and the ongoing Canadian opioid abatement class action, there is hope for improving the current circumstances.

In conclusion, addressing the opioid crisis in Calgary requires understanding its impacts on public health, homelessness, and crime. Equally important is the need to continue and further the initiatives focused on harm reduction, treatment, and community support.

The task ahead is daunting, but through a continued collective effort, we can hope to turn the tide on the devastating opioid crisis that has gripped Calgary and other Canadian communities.