Canadian Adolescent Opioid Crisis: An Urgent National Issue
In a recent article published by [Global News](https://globalnews.ca/news/9936279/9936279-youth-overdoses-public-health-emergency-pediatricians/), paediatricians across Canada say the increasing youth overdose rates in the country should be declared as a public health crisis. This urgent plea is vital as it sheds light on the homeland’s struggle with the opioid crisis and macro-scale effects on society, including cost to health care, a rise in crime rates, and an increase in homeless populations.
Alarming Trends in the Opioid Crisis
According to the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), opioid-related hospitalizations and deaths among children and teenagers have been doubling every few years. The report from the CPS warns that pediatricians are not adequately prepared to manage the opioid harm and are seeking urgent assistance from federal and provincial governments.
Key Points from the Article:
– Overdose rates in youths are rising dramatically; a public health emergency.
– The opioid crisis is linked to a rise in crime rates and homelessness.
– Increased rates of opioid-related hospitalizations and deaths among underage population.
– Paediatricians are ill-equipped to deal with the growing crisis.
– High demand for opioids has led to a nationwide opioid class action.
– Calls for urgent assistance from federal and provincial governments.
– Suggestion for a nationwide policy to ensure naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, is widely accessible.
Opioid Class Action: A Nationwide Endeavour
With the soaring demand for opioids due to addiction and dependency issues, an opioid class action has been initiated across Canada. The opioid crisis, once just an issue linked with adults, has infiltrated the adolescent demographic, triggering calls for government intervention and proactive measures.
Need for Naloxone
CPS is stressing the need for a nationwide policy to ensure naloxone, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose in progress, is widely available and accessible. This life-saving drug has the potential to drastically reduce the number of overdose-related deaths, if only it is readily available to all Canadians regardless of their geographical location or socio-economic status.
Opioid Crisis: Impact on Society
It is impossible to talk about the opioid crisis without addressing its larger societal effects. Apart from the heart-wrenching fact that it is linked to an increased number of deaths, the crisis is also connected to a rise in crime rates and homelessness.
Opioids and Crime Rate
People who are trying to sustain their addiction often resort to petty crimes to fund, leading to a substantial increase in crime rates. This situation not only destabilizes a community but also requires law enforcement’s time and resources that could be better utilized elsewhere.
Opioids and Homelessness
Opioid addiction can lead to severe economic hardship, leaving many in a circle of poverty and homelessness. By addressing the opioid crisis, we are also addressing a root cause of homelessness in the country.
In summary, the current state of the opioid crisis in Canada, especially among the youth, needs immediate attention from both the federal and provincial governments. The harmful impacts extend well beyond individual health concern, increasing crime rates, and pushing more people into homelessness. There is an urgent need for a nationwide policy to make naloxone readily accessible to all Canadians and for proactive governmental measures to stop this crisis from escalating further. This crisis, like all other societal issues, requires a comprehensive, empathetic, and swift solution.
The opioid crisis might be a formidable enemy, but by standing together as a nation, it is an enemy we can undoubtedly overcome. This situation calls for improved capabilities for pediatricians, a societal change in the perception of addiction, and an increase in government funding for prevention and treatment options.
