Combating prescription drug addiction a priority

The Harper government announced June 29 that it will invest $1.5 million to support programs to battle the prescription drug epidemic in Ontario First Nation communities where it is estimated that 80 per cent of the population on some reserves abuse prescription drugs.

“Addressing prescription drug abuse is important for Health Canada,” said federal spokesperson Gary Holub. “Prescription drug abuse is an area of increasing concern, not just for First Nations, but for the Canadian population generally,” he added.

The province of Ontario and the federal government have agreed to contribute the funds to support activities identified in the Ontario Trilateral First Nations Health Senior Officials Committee work plan for 2012-2013, Health Canada said.

The committee, established in September 2011, is a senior level committee with representation from Ontario First Nations as well as members of provincial and federal governments. The main objective of this committee is to work collaboratively in identifying and implementing practical measures on specific priority areas regarding First Nations Health.

“On June 29, 2012, the TFNHSOC approved a work plan that recommended a series of immediate, short term and long-term results-based initiatives that will improve mental health and addictions services for First Nations people living on reserve in Ontario, reduce prescription drug abuse, and enhance access to a full continuum of services for people addicted to prescription drugs,” Holub added.

The work of the committee has been guided by the recommendations outlined in the Health Canada funded 2010 report entitled: Prescription Drug Abuse Strategy: Taking a Stand, developed by the Chiefs of Ontario. In the document, the authors said, “The abuse of certain prescription drugs has become an epidemic in First Nations communities. The epidemic is affecting communities and family structures through increased violence, theft, divorce, loss of needed human resources plus a host of other negative social problems.”

Last spring, First Nations leaders in Ontario called on the government for assistance in handling what they predicted would be a health crisis following Health Canada’s decision to cut First Nation funding for the addictive opiate painkiller OxyContin.

Health Canada confirmed that as of Feb. 15 OxyContin had been pulled off the Drug Benefit List of the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, which provides drug coverage for more than 800,000 registered First Nations and Inuit. At that time the government said they would consider requests for long-acting oxycodone under the NIHB plan on a case-by-case basis and coverage may be granted in exceptional circumstances, such as cancer or palliative pain management.

“It is time for both levels of government to respond with programs and services that are urgently required to implement emergency strategies.” Without OxyContin available, indivi-duals could experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from stomach upset, muscle and bone pain, anxiety, restlessness, increased heart rate and blood pressure to depression and suicide, deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation said in a statement Feb. 16.

Further, in January, Chief Matthew Keewaykapow of Cat Lake First Nation declared a State-of-Emergency due to widespread opioid addiction affecting 70 per cent of his community members. Then on Feb. 6, Matawa First Nations, a tribal council of nine Northern Ontario First Nations, reported that almost 2,000 people have an opioid addiction in their communities.

Health Canada said that the recent allocation of funds will go directly to health-focused mandates aimed at assisting Aboriginal people living on reserve.

The resources include increasing the use and availability of community wellness development teams that provide critical assistance in establishing linkages to mental health, treatment and after-care services and assist with community-based planning, education initiatives and capacity development.

According to Health Canada, teams will work to identify unique strengths and approaches that will respond to the different needs of each First Nation community.

The funds will also be allocated to completing the evaluation of prescription drug abuse projects that were funded by Health Canada last year.

“Lessons learned through the evaluation process will help to guide the working group in the development of future community-based projects and will assist all parties to leverage partnerships and resources, and learn from each other’s successes and challenges,” said Holub.
Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said that combating drug abuse is a priority for the federal government.

“Working with First Nations leadership, and our federal and provincial partners and agencies, Health Canada has been actively supporting the development of collaborative approaches to treatment and after-care programming that strengthen First Nations families and communities,” Aglukkaq said in a press statement.

In addition to its work with the committee in Ontario, Health Canada said it has taken on additional activities, including training and capacity building efforts specific to prescription drug abuse, re-profiling of some treatment centres to focus on culturally appropriate prescription drug withdrawal management, and support to First Nations to develop comprehensive strategies.