You can still have your say about cannabis restrictions in the community until Wednesday afternoon but concerns have been raised about people being able to submit more than one survey. "Yes, there are no restrictions based on IP addresses as this is city policy," said Jim Genge senior planner, planning and development services. Restrictions would make it difficult to complete the survey, including for the more than 500 who completed it at the Home and Garden Trade Show, he said. It would also restrict more than one person in a household from having a say. [continues 361 words]
The significant spike in illicit drug overdoses in Lethbridge has not reached Medicine Hat - yet. There is no way to predict that it will or when, said Insp. Tim McGough, Medicine Hat Police Service. Lethbridge recently experienced its largest spike in overdoses - 16 cases - ever recorded in a 24-hour period. There were 42 overdose calls to first responders in the week after Feb. 19. "We've had no specific overdose spike (in Medicine Hat) but we are always concerned with illicit usage." said McGough. [continues 349 words]
It is hard to pinpoint reasons for a large increase in the number of physicians authorizing the use of medical marijuana, but a local pain specialist has some theories. "Cannabinoids are showing great promise as medicines, especially in the myriad of non specific conditions like anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, mild to moderate pain, unhappiness, recurrent stress and dysphoria conditions which pharmacotherapy has offered little and doctors are ill equipped to treat," said Dr. Gaylord Wardell, anesthesiologist and pain specialist, Sante Surgi, Medicine Hat. "Patients are dissatisfied with their doctors and their drugs." [continues 457 words]
Public awareness of possible harm from marijuana use will be part of a public campaign in the coming days as July approaches when the federal government will legalize the use of the drug. "We will have a public education campaign around the legalization of cannabis," a spokesperson for the Alberta Cannabis Secretariat said in an email. "However, the details of public education coming from the federal government have not yet been finalized." Federal government details are necessary first in order to ensure there are no duplicated efforts at the provincial level. [continues 344 words]
Cannabis will not be the panacea everyone with an ailment is thinking it will be, says a local physician, and it is going to challenge law enforcement when it comes to impaired driving. "If there ever has been an issue in medicine as clouded by opinion and ignorance, it is medical cannabis," said Dr. Gaylord Wardell, anesthesiologist and pain specialist in Medicine Hat. The pro-cannabis forces have claimed everything from cancer cures to relief from pain but we don't actually have research to verify this, said Wardell. [continues 420 words]
Number of patients has more than doubled in Alberta compared to last year The number of patients for whom medical marijuana is being prescribed has more than doubled in Alberta compared to last year, says the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta. In 2015 there were 109 authorized physicians prescribing medical marijuana for 1,750 patients. That would be the equivalent of 438 patients for every quarter of that year. In 2016 there were 329 physicians prescribing for 5,254 patients or 1,314 patients per quarter, said Kelly Eby, spokesperson for CPSA. In the first three months alone of this year, 178 physicians prescribed medical marijuana for 2,845 patients. [continues 360 words]
Legalizing marijuana is not going to reduce policing costs, and in fact, the opposite is true, says Medicine Hat Police Service. "There are a lot of details to be determined and it certainly is not going to save the police time and money and will probably cost more in the end because there will be regulations to be enforced," said police chief Andy McGrogan. In the next 10 days the federal government will introduce legislation to legalize marijuana, which will come into effect about a year from now. Provinces will set an age restriction for buying marijuana and determine how it will be accessed at the retail level. [continues 418 words]
An initiative to address the proliferation of illicit opioids was announced by Crime Stoppers in Ontario this week. They promised a cash reward for information leading to a seizure of drugs and/or the arrest of a trafficker. Other parts of Ontario have also tried this. Some declared the program a "success" having paid two rewards for about 12 tips. We have not seen a reduction in the number of opioid overdoses. In fact the opposite is true. Tips leading to the conviction of a drug trafficker or two is good but will likely not put them out of business. Others will fill their place. It is time for stiffer sentences that really will be a deterrent. [continues 382 words]
Fentanyl overdose deaths in Alberta continue to rise, with 343 fatalities in 2016 alone; AHS hopes more emergency workers carrying the kits will help bring those numbers back down Another initiative to help prevent opioid overdose deaths will have firefighters administering naloxone injections, Alberta Health announced Tuesday. "Now firefighters across the province can administer injectable naloxone, giving them an additional life-saving tool when responding to an overdose call," said associate minister of health Brandy Payne. Medicine Hat's firefighters do not currently respond to medical emergencies but that situation is being re-evaluated, said fire chief Brian Stauth. [continues 577 words]
The biggest increase in drug overdose emergencies relates to heroin use, says Alberta Health Services. Poisoning by heroin in 2015 accounted for three emergency department visits. That number shot up to 12 in the first 10 months of 2016 alone, across Alberta Health Services' south zone, which includes Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. Across Alberta there were 338 heroin related emergency department visits in 2015. From Jan. 1, 2016 to Oct. 31, 2016 only there were 513 visits. There were 257 deaths associated with fentanyl in the south zone in 2015. In only the first six months of 2016 that number reached 153, said a spokesperson for AHS. [continues 430 words]
Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate the best way to tackle the illicit drug crisis. Vancouver is facing epidemic proportions of people overdosing on illegal drugs and many deaths. Safe injections sites are not making a significant difference. They're calling for more detox and addictions treatment programs but even that is not the answer. The majority of males in emergency departments because of an overdose are young people without a history of prescription opioid use, Dr. Nick Mitchell, senior medical director, addictions and mental health, Alberta Health Services (AHS), recently told the News. [continues 469 words]
Many young males without a history of prescription opioid use are arriving in emergency departments due to fentanyl overdoses, says Alberta Health Services. "A lot of the individuals we are seeing coming into our emergency departments, who are dying from fentanyl overdoses, tend to be younger males who don't often have a history of prescription opioid use," said Dr. Nick Mitchell, senior medical director, addictions and mental health Alberta Health Services. There are also older people with chronic opioid use over time. The dose may have been increased, other medications added, or they may be more medically frail, said Mitchell. [continues 391 words]
It is time to stop the war on chronic pain patients who are treated as though they are opioid addicts, says the Chronic Pain Association of Canada. "The large majority of pain patients are not addicts or abusers. Most do not get high from taking prescription opioids, even if they become physically dependent on them in controlling their pain," said executive director Barry Ulmer. When a chronic pain patient visits their family doctor and talks about pain the assumption is often that they are an addict, said Ulmer. There is a stigma attached. [continues 404 words]
There are no pharmacies in Alberta licensed to sell medical cannabis but there is at least one pharmacist locally that would like to see that changed. "Pharmacies are the logical choice to be the distribution system. Pharmacists are highly trained and knowledgeable of drugs and drug interactions, have access to medical records, have all the security measures in place and are accessible to the entire community," said Greg Buekert, pharmacist Greg's Remedy's Rx. Medicine Hat's first medical cannabis clinic will be open for business July 4. Dr. Michael Weigle of Natural Health Services clinic will determine whether medical cannabis is the appropriate choice for a patient. The team at NHS will help the patient select the cannabis products that will best meet their needs. The patient is then put in touch with a licensed supplier and the product is delivered to the person's home. [continues 226 words]
Legalizing marijuana may result in more impaired workers on the job, says a local concrete contractor. "We have enough dealing with present drugs and alcohol. We don't need marijuana too," said Dean Brown, project manager, Mudrack Concrete Ltd. The workplace policy at Mudrack is "show up fit for work", said Brown. Those on prescription drugs must tell their foreman and if necessary are put on other duties for the duration of the prescription. Employees have a standard rule of thumb about how many hours after drinking alcohol they are fit for work, said Brown. Alcohol is metabolized fairly quickly, 12 to 24 hours, compared to marijuana that stays in your system three to 90 days. [continues 340 words]
Since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will legalize the use of marijuana, the dangers of the drug have seemingly disappeared. It is worth being reminded of some of them. Marijuana contains a mind-altering chemical that can have long-term effects including hampering the development of the brain and its function, according to the website of the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Young people are particularly vulnerable in terms of impaired memory and ability to learn. The damage can be permanent. There are also the potential risks of mental illness including hallucinations, paranoia, depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide. There is, of course, the risk of addiction too. [continues 331 words]
Cannabis has been recognized as a pain reliever for many and now the Arthritis Society has announced a three-year research grant for a study on the benefits for people with arthritis. Dr. Jason McDougall of Dalhousie University is the recipient of the grant money to investigate the effect of medical cannabis on arthritis pain and management of the disease. "People living with arthritis pain are looking for alternatives to improve their quality of life," said Janet Yale, president and CEO of the Arthritis Society in a recent press release. "We need research to help answer the many important questions around medical cannabis and its use." [continues 251 words]
Medicine Hat provides more needles to drug users per capita than anywhere else in Alberta, according to a recent CBC News report. "Between 15,000 to 18,000 needles are given out per month to about 200 regular clients," said Barbra Madonka, program manager at Medicine Hat Cares Centre, a downtown drop-in centre that opened in 2010 and offers a needle exchange, counselling and referrals. "Last year we gave out 175,000 needles." She says her colleagues in Calgary are surprised by the numbers for the size of this community but adds this does not necessarily mean there is a higher use of drugs in the Gas City. Madonka says there are some transients using the services, including some from as far away at Ontario, who stay a while. [continues 359 words]
Drive-by shootings and innocent bystanders shot dead. It's the heady stuff that can make you want to stay home with your front door locked. It wasn't the review of a gangster movie either, it was an almost daily news bulletin coming from Calgary causing some Hatters to wonder if it could get that bad in Medicine Hat. "There's gang activity and drugs in Medicine Hat but no indication of the Calgary type of situation coming here," said Andy McGrogan, Chief of Police for Medicine Hat Police Service. [continues 151 words]
