You may have heard of Canada’s growing opioid crisis and the measures being taken to combat this epidemic. More than 9000 people have lost their lives to the opioid crisis in two years in Canada alone. The most common opioids are drugs such as fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine. Doctors often prescribe these drugs to help manage pain from surgery or injury, but this often leads to people becoming dependent on the substance and using the drug even after the injury has healed. The rates of opioid overdose related deaths are increasing every year, and more than 80% of opioid related deaths are unintentional. Those at most risks for an opioid related overdose and/or death are people who used extended release and long-acting opioids, as well as people who use opioids along with other drugs or substances like alcohol. Patients who have a pre-existing medical condition such as a pulmonary, kidney disease, or a cardiovascular disease are also at an increased risk for opioid overdose and opioid related death. If you or someone you know has a problem with misusing medications or illicit drugs, it is crucial to seek mental health treatment in order to combat the problem before it is too late.
