The Canadian Opioid Crisis: A Public Health Emergency
Recent findings from a CBC news report highlight the pressing issue of the opioid crisis in Canada. This crisis, initially recognized as a public health emergency in 2016, is having wide-ranging effects on Canadian society, from increasing homeless populations to burgeoning crime rates. It is pertinent that we, as informed community and civic leaders, are equipped with knowledge on this issue and continue to explore potential solutions.
The Impact of the Opioid Crisis
It is clear that the opioid crisis in Canada extends far beyond the individuals who are addicted to these substances. Whole communities are bearing the brunt of the crisis, and individuals who have never touched opioids are feeling the impacts in their lives as a result.
- The surge in opioid use has led to a corresponding increase in homelessness across many Canadian cities, with Calgary reporting evident increases in their homeless population. In fact, according to Alpha House’s Rob Perry, more than 50 percent of their clients are there as a direct consequence of opioid use. This puts further strain on homelessness resources and initiatives, making it difficult to alleviate the homelessness issue given the intertwined nature of these two crises.
- A rise in crime rates has also been linked to the opioid crisis. Neighborhood Watch’s Trevor Howell, affirms the undeniable correlation between the increase in property and violent crimes and the opioid crisis. The surge in theft in particular, can be directly attributed to people trying to fund their opioid addiction.
Undeniably, it is not just those struggling with addiction who are being impacted. Disruptions to community cohesion, the economy, public security, and healthcare systems, are some of the many indirect consequences that this crisis has precipitated.
Dealing with the Crisis: The Canadian Approach
Despite the grim outlook, there are ongoing efforts on multiple fronts to combat the opioid crisis. The Canadian government is proactively approaching the problem from several perspectives, including educational campaigns, improved addiction treatment services, and harm reduction approaches such as naloxone.
Naloxone – a medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose – is being actively distributed as a critical tool in the first response handling of the epidemic. Calgary’s Safeworks Harm Reduction Program, has trained thousands of people to administer naloxone, thus potentially saving lives in immediate opioid overdose situations.
Also, at the national level, the Canadian government is getting proactive in litigation. In 2019, British Columbia filed The Canadian Opioid Abatement Class Action, in a bid to recoup the societal costs linked to the opioid crisis.
Pursuing a Multifaceted Approach
It is evident that a multipronged approach is necessary to tackle the opioid crisis. While it is important to make naloxone more accessible and reduce the immediate lethal risk, we must not ignore the socioeconomic factors that can lead to opioid use. This includes mental health issues, poverty, unemployment and inadequate housing. Addressing these root causes is just as important in the fight against the opioid crisis.
Key Takeaways
The Canadian opioid crisis is a complex problem with far-reaching implications, affecting not just individuals, but whole communities. As civic and community leaders, it is our responsibility to understand the breadth and depth of the issue, and to support comprehensive and multifaceted strategies in responding to the crisis. Measures such as naloxone distribution, educational campaigns, litigation efforts like the Canadian opioid abatement class action, and improvement of systemic socioeconomic conditions, are all crucial steps in our ongoing effort to address and abate the opioid crisis in Canada.
In order to truly tackle this public health emergency, we need to create a culture that not only supports recovery, but also seeks to prevent addiction in the first place. Only by addressing the root causes of opioid use, and implementing strategies that encapsulate these wider societal issues, can we hope to make real and lasting progress against the opioid crisis.
