Experts explore multitude of strategies to curb opioid poisoning crisis
Global News
It's been a deadly year for opioid poisonings in Alberta, and some experts say it's time to bring in new tool, and revisit old ones, to combat the crisis.
An Edmonton doctor helped the province through a deadly crisis in the early 1990s.
Dr. Stan Houston said a game-changing tactic was introduced to help in the fight against HIV — harm reduction.
The infectious disease and HIV doctor helped create resources like a needle exchange program, which proved effective and evolved over the years into safe injection services.
“While people can acquire HIV in several ways, unsafe injection is one of them,” he explained in a letter. “While Albertans can imagine that we encountered some political and ideological objections along the way, there is a growing realization these are necessary public health measures to protect Albertans and reduce health-care pressure.”
Rates of new HIV infections due to injection have declined substantially over the last 30 years, due in part to the programs Houston and his team helped facilitate, as well as improvements to treatment.
“When HIV first hit, Alberta perhaps surprised other provinces by being a leader in making (the necessary drugs) available to anyone who needed them with great success.”
Houston said there are parallels between that crisis and a current one: opioid poisonings.
But the path to help those Albertans looks different.
Around 4:15 a.m. Monday a stolen flatbed truck smashed into Players Choice Sports Cards and Collectibles, completely smashing the storefront.
The union representing thousands of health care professionals across Saskatchewan is calling out the decision to hire a private company to provide mobile detox services.
The New Brunswick government says it has asked for an audit of NB Power’s billing process after receiving "hundreds" of complaints.
General Motors, Nissan and Hyundai are among the companies that say they will match the $5,000 rebate on new electric vehicles sold during January.
The Retail Council of Canada has warned that tit-for-tat tariffs between Canada and the United States could raise prices for consumers on both sides of the border.
Winnipeg has a name in mind for its first-ever chief construction officer, Mayor Scott Gillingham announced Tuesday.
Kingston city council declared food insecurity an emergency last week, becoming the third Ontario city to do so over the past few months.
An injured suspect was taken into custody after the violence on Interstate 91 in Coventry, about 32 kilometres from the Canadian border, the FBI said in a statement.
Canada’s population will grow over the years regardless of the federal government’s recent decision to slash immigration rates, a new report shows.
On Friday, Mayor Malcolm Brodie refused to answer questions about his total compensation package of at least $362,000 in 2023. He earns $198,000 as mayor.
Blue Monday is often referred to as the saddest day of the year. CMHA Waterloo Wellington says there are a variety of activities that boost mental wellness during the winter.
The league suspended Purifoy on Friday.
After years of renting two propane tanks for $99 plus tax, Joe Eagles received a $600 increase from Superior Propane. The company says the increased fee is for minimal propane use.
In June 2022, the city announced it would be widening Robie Street to add bus lanes — a project that requires space. That will also mean the end to a woman's home of 26 years.
The Toronto International Film Festival says Rogers Communications has signed a three-year deal to return as its official “presenting partner” through 2027.
A boil water advisory has been issued for parts of the Halifax region after a power failure at a water treatment facility.
The TTC unveiled its capital plan for 2025 on Monday, complete with details of how often the spine of the city's transit network would be closed for days at a time.
A passenger on a recent rough-landing flight to Halifax says not only was the incident frightening, but the aftermath was poorly managed as people were left out in the cold.