POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 81 https://novascotia.ca/opioid/ Ottawa to help Nova Scotia track opioid related deaths Originally published on Feb. 21, 2018 by Tom Ayers, The Chronicle Herald • Nova Scotia health and justice officials are getting federal help to expand the fight against opioid overdoses, which have claimed the lives of an average of 60 people in the province each year for the last seven years. • A Public Health Agency of Canada employee has been working with the provincial medical examiner’s office for the past two years setting up a surveillance program to track the number of deaths from opioid overdose in the province. • The federal government recently approved a one-year extension for the public health officer to expand the program to begin tracking opioid overdoses that don’t result in death, but present at provincial emergency rooms or to paramedics. • Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health said “We have good surveillance on overdose deaths but we need more than that,” “We need to be looking at overdoses that don’t result in death . . . and then we need to look at what are the causal factors.” • A recent report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that the amount of opioids being prescribed in the province is going down while the number of prescriptions has risen. • Strang said that’s moving in the right direction because it means doctors are exerting some control over the amount of drugs leaving pharmacies and are seeing patients more often. • “But we also have to remember that for some people with chronic pain, that they need to be sustained on their current level of opioids, even though they may be above the current guidelines,” he said. • “Because if they don’t receive those opioids, they’re going to go to the street for a replacement source, and that will just put them at significantly increased risk of overdose because of the risk of contamination.” • The opioid tracking system has since helped raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem within the health industry, government and the public, Strang said. • Since 2016, the province has provided naloxone kits to harm reduction organizations, first responders, and police and corrections officials, and provided operational funding for harm reduction organizations in Halifax, Sydney and Truro. • Cindy MacIsaac, executive director of Direction 180 in Halifax, said she didn’t have exact numbers, but more than 70 people in Nova Scotia are still alive thanks to naloxone kits handed out over the last two years. • Staff at the non-profit methadone clinic put free kits into the hands of opioid users — and others who come into contact with them — offer training in their use, and often hear success stories from people who have reversed an opioid overdose, she said. Hunger for opioids make Nova Scotia pharmacies a target for robbers Originally published on July 4, 2017 by David Burke, CBC News • 'People will go to any lengths to obtain these drugs,' says RCMP spokesperson • In March of 2016, a man entered Nova Pharmacy and convenience store on Coburg Road in Halifax with a knife and grabbed one of Peter Jorna's employees • "[He] forced one of the staff into the dispensary, put a knife to her neck and demanded the narcotic safe be opened and money from the till, and then left," said Jorna, the pharmacy owner • No employee was physically injured, but the robber cleaned out the safe and stole $3,000 worth of narcotics. One month later, the pharmacy was robbed again • Jorna's staff were left shaken and fearful.They are not alone. Over the last few months, Nova Scotia has seen a jump in the number of IN THE NEWS continued Opioid toxicity deaths in Nova Scotia There have been 2 confirmed and 2 probable opioid toxicity deaths in 2018 (as of the end of February 2018). 2017........................................................66 2016 .......................................................53 2015........................................................60 2014........................................................66 2013........................................................54 2012........................................................67 2011........................................................56 (Note: Numbers are subject to change; case investigations are ongoing.) continued
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