Pubdate: Thu, 09 Feb 2017
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Dr. Scott MacDonald
Page: 14

OPIOID ADDICTION TREATMENT SHOULD BE MADE A PRIORITY

Gordon Clark's Feb. 6 column contains two errors: He assumes that we
can 1) enforce or 2) educate our way out of this opioid crisis. Such
assumptions have been made for decades and have perpetuated the opioid
epidemic.

The treatment recommendations being advocated today were called for in
Canada in the early 1970s and again in the '90s, but were ignored. We
mustn't miss another opportunity, particularly in the midst of the
current crisis. Treatments we advocate now have worked in Europe and
they can work in North America. We just need the will.

By providing treatment to illicit opioid users, societal costs are
decreased. Untreated opioid-use disorder is hugely expensive.

Injection opioid disorder should be treated as the high-priority
public-health disaster it is. Treatment on demand, including
supervised injectable opioid-assisted treatment, is urgently needed.

Dr. Scott MacDonald, Providence Health Care Crosstown Clinic
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MAP posted-by: Matt