Canadian Opioid Crisis – A Twist of Irony

Key Takeaways 

• Ironically, it is government policies, rather than the malevolent practices of pharmaceutical companies, that have been a driving force in fuelling the Canadian opioid crisis.
• While lawsuits against big pharma, like the Canadian Opioid Class Action, draw headlines, governments have been quietly pushing potentially harmful opioids with little scrutiny.
• Canadian governments’ initial reasoning for supplying opioids was commendable—to alleviate pain. However, their lack of caution and poor management have resulted in an opioid epidemic.
• Opioid prescriptions funded by the Canadian governments have seen an increase of 60% in the last five years, contributing significantly to the current crisis situation.
• Changes have been made for government policies to wait until non-opioid treatments fail before prescribing opioids. However, there exists concern that this policy shift has come too late.

Reflection and Call to Action

It’s a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. On one hand, Canadian governments are launching lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies like those involved in the Canadian Opioid Class Action. Yet, on the other hand, they’re deep in the trenches of the opioid crisis, offering generous prescriptions of these same addictive drugs. With an increase of 60% in government-funded opioid prescriptions over the last five years, it’s quite an understatement to say this policy has been poorly managed.

The irony of this situation only adds insult to the injury of those directly affected by the epidemic. It’s clear that a significant shift in policy and action is long overdue. The recent change in government policies to prescribe opioids only after non-opioid treatments fail is a step forward, but for many, it might be a case of too little, too late.

For the sake of the countless Canadians affected by the opioid crisis, let’s hope the government’s left hand starts paying more attention to what the right hand is doing.

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