Pubdate: Sat, 19 Dec 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Rick Zabrodski
Page: A13

ADDICTION IS A DISEASE

Re: "How a little-known drug shocked Alberta, killed hundreds and 
became 2015's deadliest story," Dec. 18.

As a physician who operated an occupational drug-testing service for 
25 years, I can tell you that the incidence of drug abuse remains the 
same, and it is only the drug of choice that changes. Sadly, the 
Band-Aid approach to the current serious problem with fentanyl 
continues. Changing from OxyContin to OxyNeo removed prescribing 
physicians as the perceived bad guys, but led to the current 
situation that is much worse in terms of the death toll.

Making naloxone more readily available will save a few a lives, and 
providing appropriate and timely treatment would save even more. The 
real problem is that our society (including politicians and the 
media) will continue to see drug addiction as a character flaw, not a 
disease. Until we address the fact that 10 per cent of us are 
genetically predisposed to addiction and correct the associated 
socioeconomic risk factors, nothing will change over the long term. 
We need more funding to prevent this complex and costly problem, and 
an attitude change as well.

Rick Zabrodski MD, Calgary
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom