by: anna junker
a group of edmonton-area doctors have formed a committee to help tackle the opioid poisoning crisis in alberta.
the opioid poisoning committee, formed by the edmonton zone medical staff association (ezma), will advocate for access to evidence-based services for those who use drugs and better drug policy.
on average, four albertans are dying each day from drug poisoning. between january and may of this year, 624 albertans died of drug poisoning, and of those, 576 were specifically from opioid poisoning. in 2020, a total of 1,154 albertans died of opioid poisoning.
“incomprehensibly, existing harm reduction services are being cut,” a news release from the ezma states.
“there is no question that addiction treatment options should be available to anyone who requests them, but they are not a replacement for immediate life-saving measures, which should also be available to anyone, anytime, and without caveats. as the situation in alberta becomes graver, there is need for physician leadership, which is not influenced by politics or stigma.”
chaired by dr. ginetta savalaggio and dr. cheryl mack, the committee brings together urban, rural, and indigenous physician representatives across a number of medical disciplines with first-hand knowledge of the public health emergency.