Opioid In Canada Essay

Canada is facing an opioid epidemic. The year 2016 brought a flood of daily headlines, articles, reports, statistics, and news coverage all across the country on the drug crisis. Unfortunately, 2017 proved to be just as devastating. Overdoses, rising hospital intakes, and lost lives filled every news station and newspaper across Canada. Avoiding the news surrounding Canada’s opioid epidemic seems nearly impossible today as the issue continues to grow.

For some perspective and insights into how devastating the opioid epidemic has become, here are some of the most staggering statistics from the past few years.

Over 2,800 Canadians Died in 2016

In British Columbia, the total number of opioid-related deaths was 978; in Ontario, 865; and in Alberta,

While it appears nearly every age group is affected by the crisis, 28 percent of deaths occurred among those aged 30 to 39 years.

Fentanyl Is Gaining Popularity

Fentanyl is a powerful and potentially deadly opioid that has become the opiate of choice for many users across Canada. The proportion of fentanyl-related opioid overdoses has risen 75 percent in 2017, compared to 53 percent in 2016. While fentanyl has hit British Columbia and Alberta the hardest, other provinces, such as Ontario, are beginning to see steady increases in fentanyl use.

The Second Largest Consumer of Pharmaceutical Opioids

In 2016, doctors were writing one prescription for every two Canadians, making Canada the world’s second largest per-capita consumer of pharmaceutical opioids—following closely behind the United States. Because painkillers quickly became doctors’ prescription of choice in the early 2000s, many Canadians unintentionally became addicted to opioids, contributing to what’s now a devastating opioid epidemic.

It Started in 1996

While the opioid epidemic is currently at an all-time high, the issue dates back to 1996 when opioids became more widely available. Before then, doctors primarily prescribed opioids to terminally ill cancer