A leading scholar of drug addiction says the B次元官网网址渢ragicB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址減reventableB次元官网网址� death of Dan Sealey B次元官网网址� the stepson of local MLA and minister of agriculture Lana Popham B次元官网网址� confirms the need for a policy shift.
B次元官网网址淚t underscores our discussion [regarding] concerns related to an unsafe drug supply and the need for decriminalization and legalization to prevent overdose deaths as a universal approach,B次元官网网址� said Bernie Pauly, an associate professor in the UVic School of Nursing and a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.
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Sealey, PophamB次元官网网址檚 step, died earlier this month of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 23. Key details of his death B次元官网网址� including the drug that he consumed B次元官网网址� remain unknown following a private gathering of friends and family Sunday in lieu of a funeral service.
B次元官网网址� believed to be one of DanB次元官网网址檚 two sisters B次元官网网址� describes him as B次元官网网址渁 brilliant, hilarious, happy kid who struggled with both mental illness and addiction later in life.B次元官网网址�
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Pauly said decriminalization of drugs for personal use as supported by organizations like the Canadian Public Health Association should be combined with scaled up harm reduction and treatment, as well as guaranteed annual incomes to address disparities in overdose deaths.
Pauly said the current provincial government has rapidly expanded harm reduction services through measures like the provincial naloxone program, overdose prevention and substitution programs among others.
B次元官网网址淗owever, these services are not evenly implemented in all communities across the province relative to need,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥verdose prevention sites are often located in shelters and low income housing, so we need to think about reach across the population of people, who may be using substances and not accessing such locations.B次元官网网址�
Another key issue concerns stigma, as it is important for people to feel safe to access services. B次元官网网址淒ecriminalization could contribute to reducing stigma as currently illegal drugs are also highly stigmatized,B次元官网网址� she said.
Pauly said deaths like SealeyB次元官网网址檚 underscore that the current crisis is a public health issue (rather than a criminal one), and she agrees with the observation that SealeyB次元官网网址檚 death take the issue right into the provincial cabinet.
B次元官网网址淲e know drug overdoses impact so many families from so many different communities, and this tragedy has to stop,B次元官网网址� she said.
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