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Canada's top doctor open to opioid decriminalization as COVID-19 threatens to worsen crisis in Alberta – Calgary Herald

Published

4 years ago

August 23, 2020

But some experts and advocacy groups worry there could be an increase in opioid-related deaths during the pandemic, a trend that has already borne out in provinces such as Ontario and B.C. In the latter province, there was a 130 per cent increase in June overdose deaths compared to June of last year.

Petra Schulz, co-founder of Moms Stop The Harm, said the number of recently bereaved families who have reached out to the organization has skyrocketed in recent months.

“In Ontario and B.C., where we have specifics, we’ve seen overdose deaths like never before,” Schulz said.

“We don’t have numbers in Alberta, which we really should have right now, but one can only assume that the overdose rates here in Alberta are bad as well.”

Though statistics past March are not yet available, AHS issued a health warning in June for the Edmonton region following a spike in opioid overdoses and deaths, particularly involving carfentanil, a drug AHS says is about 100 times as potent as fentanyl. It’s tied to 16 deaths in the Edmonton area in the last week of May and first week of June alone.

Donald MacPherson, director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, said the reason for the spike in overdoses is likely twofold.

When the border closed, the drug supply in Canada became more dangerous as more drugs were made or altered in Canada, he said, but pandemic restrictions also saw safe injection sites and methadone clinics offering more limited services or closing altogether to prevent the spread of COVID-19, leaving drug users isolated with more toxic drugs.

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N.S. Tory leader won’t ask Poilievre to join campaign |

Published

2 mins ago

November 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

Tim Houston, who is seeking a second term as Nova Scotia premier, said he had no plans to invite Poilievre to join him on the campaign ahead of the Nov. 26 provincial election. He explained the provincial Progressive Conservatives have no formal ties with the Tories in Ottawa — and he made a point of saying he is not a member of the federal party. Experts say it also is because the latest polls suggest Atlantic Canadians have not warmed to Poilievre. (Nov. 5, 2024)

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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney challenged at poll when out to vote in election

Published

4 mins ago

November 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — It has been a rough few days for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. First, his 19th-ranked Tigers lost to Louisville on Saturday night, then he was told he couldn’t vote Tuesday at his polling place.

Swinney, whose given name is William, explained that the voting system had locked him out, saying a “William Swinney” had already voted last week. Swinney said it was his oldest son, Will, and not him.

“They done voted me out of the state,” Swinney said. “We’re 6-2 and 5-1 (in the Atlantic Coast Conference), man. They done shipped me off.”

Dabo Swinney had to complete a paper ballot and was told there will be a hearing on Friday to resolve the issue.

“I was trying to do my best and be a good citizen and go vote,” he said. “Sometimes doing your best ain’t good enough. You have to keep going though, keep figuring it out.”

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Fatality inquiry into Alberta boxer’s knockout death recommends better oversight

Published

4 mins ago

November 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

EDMONTON – The judge leading a fatality inquiry into the knockout death of a boxer is recommending changes to how the sport is regulated and how head injuries are monitored.

Timothy Hague, who was 34, competed in a boxing match licensed by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission in June 2017 when his opponent, Adam Braidwood, knocked him unconscious.

Hague came to and was able to walk to the dressing room, where he vomited, and was then taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a large brain bleed.

His condition did not improve, care was withdrawn and Hague died two days after the fight.

Justice Carrie Sharpe with Alberta’s provincial court made 14 recommendations, including that combat sports be overseen by a provincial authority instead of a patchwork of municipal bodies and that there be concussion spotters at every event.

She also recommends that if a fighter receives a blow to the head in a technical knockout, they must provide a brain scan to prove they are fit to compete again.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

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