Athena Malta
100141818
ENG 100: 13
#4
Future of the Canadian Opioid Crisis
The Canadian opioid crisis is likely to get worse, before it improves. I believe that in the near future, overdose death rates will remain on a steady incline until something is done to decrease the number of deaths related to opioids, such as implementing more safe injection sites. The Canadian government must realize how significant and lethal the crisis truly is, and take action on the problem. I believe many more harm reduction implementations will be put in to place within the next 10 years. However, for implementations to be successful it requires Canadians to shift their perspective’s on drug users.
There is an abundance of stigma and social disapproval towards drug users, because of the stigma and discrimination surrounding substance dependence it can prevent users from seeking addiction treatment and using harm reduction services (Drug Policy Alliance). Many Canadians believe that the government should not aid users with their addictions. This is a reason as to why safe injection sites are so controversial, however, safe injection sites are proven to be the first steps in combatting addiction (Quinn). In order to introduce successful harm reduction implementations, Canadians need to understand how harm reduction strategies are able to combat addictions, and greatly reduce overdose death rates, while treating users ethically and giving them a safe place for help. Many Canadians are beginning to shift their perspective’s on the opioid crisis and drug users, which is a reason as to why Vancouver’s safe injection site, Insite, is so successful.
Until more implementations are put in to place in Canada, the drug trade is going to continue to become more dangerous, increasing fear for anyone who uses drugs, both addicts and recreational users. Fentanyl in opioids is a main contributor to Canadian overdose rates (Government of Canada). In the near future, when many more safe injection sites are put in to place, I believe fentanyl overdose rates will drastically decrease as injection site facilities are able to test a drug users personal supply for an unsafe amount of fentanyl.
Living in Canada with more harm reduction implementations will mainly feel different for people with substance dependence and people living in high drug use areas, as facilities are typically introduced into high drug use areas. In the beginning stages of an implementation, such as an injection site, crime rates may increase in surrounding areas, as seen in Calgary (Tasker). However, it is difficult to predict this as it is not seen everywhere, Vancouver saw a decrease in crime rates (Tasker). I believe that the stigma around drug users in certain areas plays a major role in results, as Calgary is likely to be more conservative than Vancouver, therefore, Calgary does not have as much community support as Vancouver does for this type of initiative. For implementations to be successful, community support is necessary, as a negative stigma can be a factor as to why users may not reach out for help with their drug misuse.
Vancouver already has implementations, such as the safe injection site, Insite, living in Vancouver will not feel much different. Insite is located in the downtown east side, which is a very high drug use area. More initiatives are needed in the Vancouver area, however, it is quite difficult to predict what changes could occur with initial implementations of harm reduction strategies. Insite has shown positive results and I believe that the pros of safe injection sites, and other harm reduction strategies, greatly outweigh any cons. As seen in other countries around the world, crime rates do decrease overtime, thousands of lives are saved from overdoses because of these facilities, and rates of viral infections drastically decrease (Bajekal). I believe similar results are achievable for Canada.
Works Cited
Bajekal, Naina. “Want to Win the War on Drugs? Portugal Might Have the Answer”, Time,1 August, 2018, https://time.com/longform/portugal-drug-use-decriminalization/
Drug Policy Alliance. “Stigma and People Who Use Drugs”, Drug Policy Alliance, https://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA_Fact_Sheet_Stigma_and_People_Who_Use_Drugs.pdf
Government of Canada. “Opioids and the opioid crisis – Get the facts”, Government of Canada, 2 April, 2019, https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/problematic-prescription-drug-use/opioids/get-the-facts.html
Quinn, Mattie. “Safe Drug Injection Sites Are Coming To America. Canada Has Had Them For Years.”, Governing The Future of States and Localities, May, 2019, https://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-supervised-injection-site.html
Tasker, John Paul. “Andrew Scheer slams ‘terrible’ Liberal approach to safe Injection sites”, CBC News, 24 September, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-injection-sites-terrible-1.5294321
A Safe injection site, Insite, located in Vancouver.