Canada is the second country most affected by opioid crisis after the United States. Health Canada, the country’s public health agency, estimates that 10,337 people died from an overdose related to opioid painkillers between January 2016 and September 2018.
To fight against this scourge, elevated to the rank of national public health crisis, the government of Ottawa has just authorized the use of prescription heroin (diacetylmorphine) for medical purposes. This is added to the list of drugs used “for urgent public health needs” to treat opioid dependence, specifies the lapresse.ca website. Health authorities have also approved the use of injectable hydromorphone, a semi-synthetic derivative of morphine. The product may be administered, under the supervision of a physician, to adult patients with serious disorders associated with the use of opioids, depending on the radio-canada.
An alternative to traditional treatments
Prescription heroin and hydromorphone complete the list of drugs already authorized (methadone, suboxone and kadian) to help people with drug addiction.
Prescription heroin could be an alternative for addicted patients on whom traditional treatments have failed.
“We know that current treatments are ineffective in some cases. Today’s announcement gives people with opioid use disorder access to two new evidence-based treatment options “, justified the Federal Minister of Health Petitpas Taylor, quoted by the press.
Only patients who present two to three times a day in a specialized clinic will be able to benefit from these two new treatments.
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