Alberta is implementing a range of new tools to address overdoses and deaths related to fentanyl and other opioids.
This action complements more than $7 million already invested this year in new addictions treatment programming and recovery beds.
The new measures include:
- Improving the collection and publishing of data to better target interventions
- Expanding access to opioid replacement therapy
- Funding several community agencies working to establish supervised consumption sites
- Improving prescription drug monitoring and implementing new tools to prevent prescription drug misuse in partnership with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta
“These new measures will make a difference for families who need help for loved ones struggling with addiction,” said Brandy Payne, Associate Minister of Health in a press release made available late last week. “We are working closely with our community partners and affected families to ensure we are making the right investments. Together, everyone in Alberta needs to be part of the conversation on how we treat and support people living with addiction.”
The latest information on fentanyl-related deaths in Alberta indicates 47 people died during the third quarter of 2016. That compares to 81 during the previous three-month period and 66 in the third quarter of 2015. As of September 30, 2016, 193 people died of apparent drug overdoses related to fentanyl in Alberta this year. That compares with 205 fentanyl-related deaths during the same period in 2015.
The province is asking the Chief Medical Officer of Health to take action to further expand access to harm reduction services, especially opioid replacement therapy. In Alberta, 65 physicians are licensed to provide methadone and approximately 160 are licensed to provide suboxone for people with opioid dependency. Over the next few weeks, AHS Opioid Dependency Program clinics in Edmonton and Calgary will identify stable clients and connect them to a physician for ongoing treatment.
Dr. Trevor Theman, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta said this is another positive step towards harm reduction for patients and that they applaud the government’s actions.
The province explained that harm reduction saves lives and is therefore allocating funding to explore the need for supervised consumption services in Alberta. These health services are shown to prevent overdose deaths and improve access to medical and social supports to vulnerable people and are not found to increase drug use and criminal activity.
A $230,000 grant to Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services Edmonton (AMSISE) will support the community engagement process and the development of a proposal to initiate the federal application process. A $500,000 grant will allow other Alberta communities where needle exchange programs are in place to assess their need for supervised consumption services.
“Evidence supports harm reduction strategies as an effective way to address opioid misuse,” detailed Dr. Karen Grimsrud, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “We can increase Albertans’ access to opioid replacement therapy by strengthening supports for primary care physicians and Primary Care Networks to provide this care. And by working with community organizations like AMSISE, we will better understand how supervised consumption services might fit in our overall harm reduction strategy.”
Shelley Williams of AMSISE Edmonton said they appreciate the support from Alberta Health to take the next step in planning.
“Our coalition of organizations and individuals recognize the need and value in adding supervised consumption services in Edmonton,” said Williams. “This is an evidence-based practice adding to the spectrum of prevention, harm reduction, and treatment services.”
One member of AMSISE and parent advocate spoke on how a supervised consumption service could have saved their son’s life.
“Our son, Danny, might still be alive had there been a supervised consumption service,” Petra Schulz, AMSISE member and parent advocate. “He was alone that day and did not know it was fentanyl. As a mother, my definition of harm reduction is keeping a person alive so they can make a better decision on another day.”
To date, the current provincial government has invested $3 million for new opioid dependency treatment spaces, providing treatment for an additional 240 patients. Additionally, they have investing more than $4.5 million in new addiction treatment beds, with the province opening nearly 50 detoxification beds since February.
Since the start of the Take Home Naloxone Kit Program, the number of naloxone kits had quadrupled to 13,000 from 3,000. As of Sept. 30, over 6,400 naloxone kits have been given to Albertans. These kits have been used 472 times. The kits are being distributed through 895 registered sites, including local pharmacies.
Currently the Alberta government is working with the federal government to restrict chemicals used to make fentanyl under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, which Health Canada has committed to act on quickly.
In an effort to target Fentanyl at the source, the government has invested an additional $2.6 million in Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), bringing the province’s total investment to $29.1 million. Additionally, they have provided Proceeds of Crime grants totalling $220,000 to police and their community partners to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs.
Editor@sylvanlakenews.com