The President of the British Columbia Nurses Union Calls for Decriminalization and a National Public Health Emergency to Address the Opioid Crisis



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The President of the British Columbia Nurses Union argues that the decriminalization of personal possession of all opioids as well as access to a safe supply of opioids is the only long-term approach to the treatment of opioids. current crisis that will save lives [19659003ChristineSorensalsoasksWatawadtodeclareanationalhealthgeneralthatmandatesthereductionofharmlessness

"BC has some of the most progressive harm reduction programs and policies and promotes supervised injection sites. "Still, the province continues to face one of the worst overdose crises in the country – nearly 2,000 British Columbians have died from a preventable opioid overdose in 2016 and 2017 . "

Sorensen recognizes that the federal government is responding to the crisis with initiatives such as allowing the expansion of supervised injection sites and making naloxone available without a prescription, but that is not enough.

"Abou t 90% of people who died last year were alone in a home when they were victims of an overdose. The supervised injection sites alone n & # 39; They do not help these people. "

" We have to stop treating the most vulnerable members of our society like criminals, and countries like Portugal have taught us that when you decriminalize, people feel safe enough to to seek treatment. "

Sorensen argues that by stating that the current crisis is a national public health emergency under the Emergency Measures Act, Ottawa may"

"Nurses all over British Columbia are increasingly concerned that more needs to be done, "she said.

" Comox's Ryan Hedican's avoidable death n & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; Is an example of the devastating balance sheet the crisis is affecting families and communities. "

Sorensen encourages the public to sign a petition to the House of Commons that was drafted as a result of Hedican's death and with the help of community nurses.

for the decriminalization of personal possession and the safe and secure access to substances to prevent poisoning and overdose due to a contaminated source.

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