Most Canadians prefer drug treatment that doesn't rely on opioid replacement: poll

[S.J.B.]

Most Canadians prefer drug treatment that doesn't rely on opioid replacement: poll
CTV News
August 15th, 2019

A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians prefer harm reduction initiatives that don't rely on opioid replacement therapy.

In a survey conducted by Research Co. last month, 57 per cent of respondents said they support drug treatment that aims for abstinence instead.

On the other hand, 48 per cent of respondents indicated they prefer the opposite: treatment that does not aim for abstinence and relies on opioid replacement.

Approval rates for safe injection sites and needle exchange programs were similar at 59 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.

Read the full story here.

 

[S.J.B.]

Never mind the headline. The bottom line is that opioid agonist therapy has nearly the social buy-in that abstinence-based treatment for opioids does, and that safe injection sites are supported by the majority.

 

[cj]

Who cares what they prefer? MAT works far better. I don't know why we rely on the opinions of people who aren't experts. It's like "Canadians prefer cancer treatment that doesn't rely on chemotherapy"