Province First to Allow Paramedics to Administer Antipsychotics to Methamphetamine Users

Manitoba has become the first province to give paramedics the opportunity to administer a drug that helps prevent methamphetamine-related psychosis.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen announced Monday that olanzapine was now part of the paramedic paramedic tool kits.

"We are giving this extra tool to paramedics, and we think it will help keep not only addicts who are showing signs of stress, psychosis or extreme agitation … we help them stay safe, as well as paramedics. paramedics respond to them and those around them, "said Friesen.

Olanzapine is an antipsychotic drug that can be taken orally with rotting tablets. It helps reduce the severity of symptoms, such as agitation, in those who have used methamphetamine.

The Minister of Health acknowledged that the drug was part of the province's methamphetamine action plan, but not the riddle.

The government has already opened five pilot projects for rapid access to drug treatment clinics and increased bed capacity in some treatment centers, Friesen said. He could not say when a long-term strategy for dealing with methamphetamine in Manitoba would be introduced, but pointed out that the May 2018 Virgo Report on Mental Health and Addictions was the province's roadmap.

"Manitobans can expect the government to continue to respond, to continue announcing other announcements as this report is absorbed, to consider what we have to do it and show the same flexibility and the same innovation, we respond, "he said. "We have not done everything yet and we are fully engaged in this work."

Dr. Ginette Poulin, Medical Director of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, welcomed the addition of Olanzapine to the arsenal of paramedics. She also noted that much remains to be done to fight the methamphetamine crisis.

"Because the crisis is so bad, it's difficult, we're reacting instead of being proactive, and it's hard to keep up with what I call the" drug of the day, "" Poulin said.

"So we were dealing with the opioid crisis and trying to find ways to manage it more effectively, and then we had the crystal meth outbreak … We are trying to go to other jurisdictions and unfortunately when it comes to crystal meth, there is no magic antidote or pill that solves everything. "

NDP health critic Andrew Swan said the provincial government was "too good at providing information on cannabis", but lagging behind in public education on methamphetamine .

"It's a stopgap measure, we have to do everything in our power to protect the first responders, but there is so much more to do than the government has taken," he said.

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