[ON, CA] McMaster pain guru lauds new provincial opioid strategy

[thujone]

The province is making the right moves to fight an opioid crisis that threatens to envelop some of Ontario's most vulnerable, according to a leading McMaster University doctor and professor.

Ontario announced its "first comprehensive opioid strategy" yesterday, which includes measures aimed at modernizing prescribing and dispensing of both opioids and the drugs used to treat addiction and overdose.

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In 2014, more than 700 people died in Ontario from opioid-related causes, a 266 per cent increase since 2002, according to the ministry.

The province is also pledging $17 million to enhance or create 17 chronic pain clinics across the province.

Other measures include:

• Developing "evidence-based standards" for health-care providers on prescribing opioids, to be released by 2017-18, to prevent unnecessary dispensing and over-prescribing of painkillers.
• De-listing high-strength formulations of long-acting opioids from the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary, starting Jan. 1. These include 200 mg tablets of morphine; 24 mg and 30 mg capsules of hydromorphone; 75 mcg/hr and 100mcg/hr fentanyl patches; and 50 mg meperidine tablets.
• Bringing in stricter controls for fentanyl patches, which took effect on Oct. 1, that require patients to turn in used patches to their pharmacist before more can be dispensed.
• Expanding access to the overdose medication naloxone, which will be made available free of charge through pharmacies and "eligible organizations" to prevent overdose.

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[ro4eva]

If it saves lives, then I support this strategy.

That said, I fear that stricter controls on stronger formulations will result in yet more patients resorting to the black market in order to satiate their needs.

Abstinence only ("just say no") sets forth unrealistic standards to meet and has resulted in far more harm than good.

Pure, unadulterated Harm Reduction is the way to go and has always been the way to go, but certain conservatards think they know what's better for us despite never touching 'street drugs' before in their lives.

 

[Felonious Monk]

Damn, I didn't realize 200mg morphine tablets even existed.

Ending the stigma against opiates will go a long way towards ending the deaths.