The government's response
"insufficient" or even "absent"
With 252 overdose deaths from January to June in Quebec, 2022 is on track to take the second deadliest year – after 2020 – since the beginning of the opioid crisis. Despite this, the government is still devoting inadequate resources to it, stakeholders denounce.
FRÉDÉRIK-XAVIER DUHAMELTHE PRESSAfter a record month of March, there were 136 other deaths related to accidental overdoses between April and June, show the latest data from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), released this week.
Consult the INSPQ dataIsabelle Fortier does not explain the lack of attention paid to overdoses by politicians: "They do not talk about
the issue and we are in an election campaign!"
FRÉDÉRIK-XAVIER DUHAMELTHE PRESSAfter a record month of March, there were 136 other deaths related to accidental overdoses between April and June, show the latest data from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), released this week.
Consult the INSPQ dataIsabelle Fortier does not explain the lack of attention paid to overdoses by politicians: "They do not talk about
the issue and we are in an election campaign!"
His daughter, Sara-Jane, died of an overdose in 2019, at the age of 24. Ms. Fortier is now involved with Moms Stop The Harm, which "calls for an end to the failed war on drugs" through prevention and science-based treatment.
In the past 12 months, there have been 490 victims of accidental overdoses of opioids and other drugs in the province. In comparison, there were 347 deaths on Quebec roads in 2021.
In the past 12 months, there have been 490 victims of accidental overdoses of opioids and other drugs in the province. In comparison, there were 347 deaths on Quebec roads in 2021.
"At the moment, the organization of health and social services is not responding [to the problem]," says Dr. Marie-Ève Goyer, medical officer for homelessness and addiction services at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal.
"The government's response is insufficient, to the point of appearing to be absent," says Jean-François Mary, executive director of CACTUS Montréal. In this context, "it is sadly normal to see such a terrible situation continue."
Stakeholders point to illicit drugs increasingly contaminated with potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, carfentanyl or isotonitazene, and benzodiazepines – another depressant – to explain the increase in overdoses.
"The government's response is insufficient, to the point of appearing to be absent," says Jean-François Mary, executive director of CACTUS Montréal. In this context, "it is sadly normal to see such a terrible situation continue."
Stakeholders point to illicit drugs increasingly contaminated with potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, carfentanyl or isotonitazene, and benzodiazepines – another depressant – to explain the increase in overdoses.
"The situation I've seen for the last year or two is unprecedented in my practice," saysDr. Goyer. We have very frequent deaths, people who are used to consuming who, overnight, come across something very powerful. »
Despite this heavy toll, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) has spent only $15 million on "measures related to the prevention and response to opioid overdoses" each year since 2018.
The envelope – which includes money allocated to the network and to harm reduction organizations like CACTUS – has not changed, while the number of victims has increased, says Mary. The MSSS states that "this stability in the sums to be dedicated
to prevention is crucial to ensure the sustainability of actions".
It was insufficient at the time, it is even more so today, which prevents the implementation of new services to address this problem.
Jean-François Mary, Executive Director of CACTUS Montréal
Since 2017, his organization has been offering a supervised injection service in its Montreal premises. Last year, it opened a fixed substance testing program, the only one of its kind in Quebec, according to the director general. But to this day, "this program still doesn't have dedicated funding," he says, so he doesn't know if it will be able to continue next year.
Changing your approachMeanwhile, "the public authorities are trying to act by the usual means, i.e. police repression", which "does not work", says Mr. Mary.
In July, the MSSS published its 2022-2025 National Overdose Prevention Strategy. Spokeswoman Marjorie Larouche says one of the objectives is "to consolidate and increase the offer of supervised consumption and drug verification services in order
to better cover regions outside major urban centres."
Consult the MSSS strategyMs. Fortier insists on the need to "open the file of decriminalization" with the help of the federal government, as in British Columbia, where the crisis is even more serious. "This would be the first step towards a humane approach to drug use," she says.
Dr. Goyer agrees, adding that treatments – such as naloxone kits or the supply of safe substances – must be made available in all regions of Quebec. There is also a need to systematically train health professionals to treat addiction, which is not currently the case.
That is to tell you how this population is a victim of stigma. If it were any other disease like COVID
, like measles, it would be a long time since it would be settled.
Dr. Marie-Ève Goyer, Medical Officer for Homelessness and Addiction Services at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
"I often say that Sara-Jane is not only a victim of our ineffective and failed drug policies, but it was stigma that actually killed her," says Fortier. If she hadn't felt stigmatized because of her use, she could have talked about it openly, she could have asked for help. »
Despite this heavy toll, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) has spent only $15 million on "measures related to the prevention and response to opioid overdoses" each year since 2018.
The envelope – which includes money allocated to the network and to harm reduction organizations like CACTUS – has not changed, while the number of victims has increased, says Mary. The MSSS states that "this stability in the sums to be dedicated
to prevention is crucial to ensure the sustainability of actions".
It was insufficient at the time, it is even more so today, which prevents the implementation of new services to address this problem.
Jean-François Mary, Executive Director of CACTUS Montréal
Since 2017, his organization has been offering a supervised injection service in its Montreal premises. Last year, it opened a fixed substance testing program, the only one of its kind in Quebec, according to the director general. But to this day, "this program still doesn't have dedicated funding," he says, so he doesn't know if it will be able to continue next year.
Changing your approachMeanwhile, "the public authorities are trying to act by the usual means, i.e. police repression", which "does not work", says Mr. Mary.
In July, the MSSS published its 2022-2025 National Overdose Prevention Strategy. Spokeswoman Marjorie Larouche says one of the objectives is "to consolidate and increase the offer of supervised consumption and drug verification services in order
to better cover regions outside major urban centres."
Consult the MSSS strategyMs. Fortier insists on the need to "open the file of decriminalization" with the help of the federal government, as in British Columbia, where the crisis is even more serious. "This would be the first step towards a humane approach to drug use," she says.
Dr. Goyer agrees, adding that treatments – such as naloxone kits or the supply of safe substances – must be made available in all regions of Quebec. There is also a need to systematically train health professionals to treat addiction, which is not currently the case.
That is to tell you how this population is a victim of stigma. If it were any other disease like COVID
, like measles, it would be a long time since it would be settled.
Dr. Marie-Ève Goyer, Medical Officer for Homelessness and Addiction Services at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
"I often say that Sara-Jane is not only a victim of our ineffective and failed drug policies, but it was stigma that actually killed her," says Fortier. If she hadn't felt stigmatized because of her use, she could have talked about it openly, she could have asked for help. »
FRÉDÉRIK-XAVIER DUHAMEL
PRESS
Opioid crisis| The government's response "insufficient" or even "absent" | The Press (lapresse.ca)
PRESS
Opioid crisis| The government's response "insufficient" or even "absent" | The Press (lapresse.ca)
