Ontario creates ‘emergency task force’ on opioid crisis, but doesn’t declare an emergency
An official public health emergency is intended for short-term emergencies, not a “chronic” one, such as the opioid challenge, said Health Minister Eric Hoskins
by Rob Ferguson
[youtube]_VLXfBA7qcQ[/youtube]
Ontario is creating an “emergency task force” of front-line workers to advise on next steps in the opioid overdose crisis, Health Minister Eric Hoskins says after quietly visiting the Moss Park safe-injection site with Premier Kathleen Wynne.
“It was clearly a moving experience for both of us,” Hoskins said of the Tuesday night visit that lasted almost two hours for discussions with drug users and harm-reduction workers.
“They’re literally saving lives every day,” the health minister, a physician, told a news conference held Wednesday to announce the task force.
Hoskins revealed plans for “robust and targeted” public education materials on the dangers of opioids for distribution in schools, campuses, coffee shops and night clubs as well as pamphlets to be handed out at pharmacies for people pickup up opioid painkiller prescriptions.
Officials said the educational materials, which Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod urged speedier action for on Tuesday, are still in development.
The informal Moss Park site, which consists of tents staffed by volunteer nurses and others, represents an “effective” door for drug users that needed to be opened, Hoskins added.
The rest here.
https://www.therecord.com/news-stor...ioid-crisis-but-doesn-t-declare-an-emergency/
An official public health emergency is intended for short-term emergencies, not a “chronic” one, such as the opioid challenge, said Health Minister Eric Hoskins
by Rob Ferguson
[youtube]_VLXfBA7qcQ[/youtube]
Ontario is creating an “emergency task force” of front-line workers to advise on next steps in the opioid overdose crisis, Health Minister Eric Hoskins says after quietly visiting the Moss Park safe-injection site with Premier Kathleen Wynne.
“It was clearly a moving experience for both of us,” Hoskins said of the Tuesday night visit that lasted almost two hours for discussions with drug users and harm-reduction workers.
“They’re literally saving lives every day,” the health minister, a physician, told a news conference held Wednesday to announce the task force.
Hoskins revealed plans for “robust and targeted” public education materials on the dangers of opioids for distribution in schools, campuses, coffee shops and night clubs as well as pamphlets to be handed out at pharmacies for people pickup up opioid painkiller prescriptions.
Officials said the educational materials, which Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod urged speedier action for on Tuesday, are still in development.
The informal Moss Park site, which consists of tents staffed by volunteer nurses and others, represents an “effective” door for drug users that needed to be opened, Hoskins added.
The rest here.
https://www.therecord.com/news-stor...ioid-crisis-but-doesn-t-declare-an-emergency/
