Pubdate: Fri, 28 Apr 2017
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Penticton Western
Contact:  http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310
Author: Linda Larson

BOUNDARY-SIMILKAMEEN CANDIDATES ON: THE DRUG CRISIS

Linda Larson is the BC Liberal candidate in the Boundary-Similkameen
riding

2016 was a year of needless deaths from opioid overdoses, particularly
with the rise of illicit fentanyl and carfentanil across Canada. Every
one of these preventable deaths reminds us that no one is spare from
the danger of these toxic drugs, or the suffering of addiction. Here
in B.C., we have led the country in our response to this crisis with
the following actions:

Invested $100 million to fund a comprehensive acute and long term
strategy to combat the overdose crisis, spearheaded by our health and
criminal justice Expert Joint Task Force.

Established a first of its kind BC Centre on Substance Use, to provide
world-class research and clinical guidance under the direction of
leading addictions expert, Dr. Evan Wood.

Increased access and coverage for opioid substitute treatments like
suboxone so addicts can safely transition off of illicit drugs.

Met our 500-treatment bed commitment and provided an additional $10
million to give up to 240 people residential and intensive out-patient
recovery services

Distributed over 30,000 no charge Naloxone kits, a key antidote that
immediately reverses an overdose.

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Linda Larson is the BC Liberal candidate in the Boundary-Similkameen riding
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MAP posted-by: Matt