Opioid addicts need more help
This letter concerns Addiction Services’ and the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s new approach towards the treatment of opioid addicts in this province.
According to a CBC News report (Dec 8, 2016), this new strategy involves a move to “eliminate hospital-based Detox for opioid addicts.”
Essentially, the Nova Scotia Health Authority intends to withhold inpatient treatment to opioid addicts at their eight Detox Units across the province saying that (for opioid addicts) “detox alone is not working.”
The preferred approach now is to kick the problem out to family physicians who may or may not have methadone licenses or to other community programs and services already overwhelmed by the problem.
In light of the national crisis of opioid addiction sweeping across this country, the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s odd strategy comes at a very unfortunate time – a puzzling response to a national public health crisis. If things go as predicted with the fentanyl crisis, this decision could yield deadly consequences.
Detox Units traditionally have provided open doors, safe places and opportunities for health professionals to react immediately to the needs of the individuals requiring care. Places where addiction professionals can complete assessments on those addicted, manage their withdrawal and try to facilitate their transition to other programs.
The new strategy of the Nova Scotia Health Authority and Addiction Services cuts off access for opioid addicts to these treatment professionals and blocks their access to publically funded potentially lifesaving services.
This is not very good news for the thousands of individuals and families in Nova Scotia affected personally by opioid addiction. Nor is it good news for workers in the community programs and services that must now fill the void left by the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s decision. The heavy lifting in the struggle against opioid addiction must now fall to others.
Pressure to address the crisis will now fall to groups like police officers, emergency room nurses, first responders, jail employees and others who deal with the issue of drug addiction daily. These groups are left to deal with overdoses, family violence or crime committed by individuals trying to feed their disease.
These workers always had the option of referring high-risk individuals to a Detox Unit for treatment. What options do they have now? People should understand that once these Detox Units are gone, they’re gone forever.
How disheartening must this strategy be for the thousands of Nova Scotians who either suffer from or who are directly affected by opioid addiction. They’re now left wondering where to get treatment and feeling abandoned. What other publically funded health-care treatment service gets to pick and choose which components of a disease they will treat?
Addiction Services is saying that they will continue to admit people addicted to alcohol or other drugs. They’re just not going to admit individuals addicted to opioid medication. That’s a lot like the cancer treatment center saying that we’ll treat people with cancer, just not lung cancer.
The province should tell the people what their strategy is for addressing the opioid crisis and create a clear path for individuals, families and community groups looking for direction. Barry McNeil Sydney