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There are two pandemics, that has been the case all along.
While it is obvious to everyone that COVID-19 has been the main most visible pandemic, there has been another deadly epidemic raging in our communities for years and that is the opioid crisis. For a long time it has been the silent killer of many families and loved ones. This problem didn’t happen overnight as opioids gained much of their popularity in the late ‘90s. Back then taking oxy for just about everything was normal. As time progressed people slowly bought into the idea, developing the substance into a leading painkiller and an essential in the medicine cabinet.
Since that time attitudes have shifted and so has the main distributor of opioids from big pharma to the black market.
Attitudes towards drug use and the black market have existed for decades, longer than I have been alive on this planet. While those opinions were created in a rich history, it does not excuse the damaging effects those ideas can have on society at large. In 2016 Canada started to take note of its own problem creating slightly more awareness from previous knowledge. While this move was a good start it has not solved the issue. Just this past Friday paramedics responded to 40 suspected overdose calls and in December alone, 34 people died of suspected overdose in Toronto. The loss of life due to coronavirus is tragic and beyond imaginable. I also want to iterate that the opioid crisis is also heartbreaking.
The Opioid Epidemic is a global issue, there is no doubt about that. We live in a world of hyper-connectedness and drug policy will always be a factor to consider in those larger conversations. At the end of the day, this just isn’t new news; the United Nations report on the Opioid Crisis was published in 2013. That was a while ago. You can find resources about this issue on both the WHO website and the CDC. It’s a global crisis.
The current pandemic has exacerbated an already challenging situation. I know a lot of people may not have seen it, but it existed. As a former barista working at a downtown coffee shop, I saw it -all the time. I also understand how common opioid use is. I myself received hydromorphone after major surgery in 2014 and for my recovery, I received a standard supply of oxycontin. I am lucky that I was able to ween myself off of those pills after that difficult experience, and I’m even more grateful to have had amazing people around me to help support that decision. Not everyone has been that fortunate.
There has been a shift towards different measures to combat harmful drug use. In previous years we were fine with criminal penalties, but now many are calling for a harm reduction model that could have tremendous benefits. Drug policy has not always existed in its current form. Canada took a radical approach to drug policy when it legalized cannabis in 2016. Canada could make equally revolutionary changes by following in Portugal’s lead and moving for models of decriminalization providing treatment for those suffering from this illness instead of turning a blind eye to countless lives lost.
Until that time comes reports from Public Health Ontario are a good start towards better analysis and action on this issue. Of course, it doesn’t bring back the loss of life, but it can certainly try to prevent it in the future. There are so many things I could say and I plan on continuing in this discussion. I just had to write something for now so I could give you as many resources as I had for your own knowledge. You should make up your own mind on the issue, all I ask is that it comes from a place of strong understanding and respect. This isn’t an easy issue.
Drug use shouldn’t be glorified, but information on the subject shouldn’t be based on assumptions either. People use drugs for a variety of reasons and not everyone gets into a substance abuse problem for the same reason. If we are so concerned about people using these things we should know what we are talking about. I find drug policy fascinating because there are so many angles you can take. It encompasses geopolitics, international trade, scientific research, history, philosophical debate, and sociology all in one. It is not a black and white issue. If we are in the future then let us take that opportunity to create policy for a future we want to live in. If we don’t want to see people die then let us build a world that provides that opportunity for growth.
If you agree with this please share this with someone else. Spread the message. Let’s broaden our perspectives on drug policy in our communities. I don’t know about you, but I’m all for saving lives. That’s just a good vibe all around!
