i cut my professional teeth detoxifying newborns from heroin, alcohol, and methadone, hundreds upon hundreds of them, in a public hospital nursery 30-40 years ago, pre-fentanyl. incidentally, having observed far more newborns exposed to crack cocaine than opioids, there is no newborn cocaine withdrawal syndrome. on the other hand, a learning disorder is almost guaranteed.
some people who see the particular suffering of opioid dependence in people of any age get an intense desire for redemption and rescue. be careful. this nut is very tough to crack. it ain't going away any time soon.
having been professionally immersed in the crack and heroin-related hiv epidemics simultaneously many decades ago, i don't think that everybody is susceptible. it might seem "viral", but i do not think it really is. it does seem like that though at times.
in nyc giuliani's goons did NOT not make the DECISIVE difference for the partial resolution of the crack epidemic. i think it "burned itself out", in part. those communities organized themselves, socially and culturally at the neighborhood and community level, to reject crack cocaine and heroin and eventually younger people in particular simply went another way.
but, be assured, there was no rescue. far too many adolescents and pregnant women are now using cannabis. far too many people are still drinking large amounts of alcohol, daily. massive numbers are dependent on the xanaxes of the chemical world. and yes, EVERYTHING should be legal.
so while everybody searches for quick resolution have patience, as hard as that is to conjure. believe me, i developed a serious case of desperation as i watched all those newborns roll through my nursery, puking, shaking, sweating, screaming, plus plus.
the reflex of abandoning a more public health approach and returning overwhelmingly to policing at this point is a mistake. law enforcement will be necessary, but neither the law nor religion will solve this. nevertheless, all approaches will be necessary. above all be patient and be careful. anti-opioid missionaries are less than useful in the long run.
unless of course, you are desperate enough to go the way of the philllipines and el salvador and, folks, that is a COMPLETELY different discussion.
incidentally, alcohol is a far larger problem. certainly the toxicity level for any given fetus is far higher than for other "hard" drugs. Fetal alcohol exposure is considered to be at the very top of any list of causes of intellectual disability. some think it is the leading cause.
and as canucks, always remember that y'all have been "sitting" on close to genocidal levels of substance use amongst 1st nations peoples for decades and doing "jack" about it. to some extent fentanyl is a big deal now because white people are in the middle of it.
Thank-you, that schooled me. An article years back opined that the crack epidemic was beaten in the end by "little brother theory" - that younger brothers watched their elder brothers shrink away and die from the stuff, and so never touched it. Gradually, that ethic spread.
I can't forget John Oliver in a circle of chairs with a support group, asking how many started their addiction with a pain prescription - and EVERY hand went up. I have hopes that the opioid epidemic, which started with prescriptions will begin to shrink as hangovers from that source are reduced.
The most-misunderstood part of this story is that the majority of the deaths are NOT in the neighbourhoods the column starts off in - but in paid-for homes to guys with jobs that used it when alone, and none to pick them up. The news story the day this came out was that construction sites want easy-to-use Naxalone on every site.
I appreciate your links to good articles on the current state of affairs elsewhere and especially BC. There's a lot of clutter without clarity in the media, perhaps understandably, and I tune out when there's little opportunity for better understanding. Looking forward to your next two articles.
I’m looking forward to this un-politicized journalism. I lost my son to an overdose a year ago. He had a degree in Economics, his MBA, and had been straight for almost two years. We were an ordinary middle-class family and never deserted him. I’m mentioning all this only to remind people that addiction can happen to the best kids, from the best families.
Excellent work Paul, thank you. Regarding smoking versus injecting- it’s easier AND has a higher degree of efficacy as the drug passes through the lung’s extensive lining, entering the bloodstream as fast as fixing. Less hassle with than with rigs. Just a glass pipe or piece of foil, a lighter and…
I’m looking forward to the next instalments of your investigation, serious journalism versus the political BS of both the left and the right. There are no panaceas in this life. One day at a time. Thanks again 🙏❗️
Thanks for delving into this crisis. That so many members of our communities are suffering with crippling drug addictions is very very troubling and very very sad.
Perhaps your comment has merit that Pierre Poilievre is irresponsible by inferring that once we rid Canada of Justin Trudeau and his wacko policies regarding drug addiction is too simple a solution on the crisis. However, I would counter that Pierre Poilievre has done much to raise awareness of the issue, and most importantly raise awareness that our government is not adequately addressing the crisis.
Further, I cannot help but wonder if the legalization of cannabis has not swayed the public's mindset regarding acceptance of drug use and thus is a factor in bringing us where we are today.
The legalization of cannabis was only possible because the "public mindset" had changed years before. It took a while for those that had been angry at stigmatization for decades to realize they'd become a solid majority that had been too afraid to speak. Trudeau's move leapfrogged over the NDP "decrim" policy of years standing. "Decrim" had gone from "too radical" to "too half-hearted" during that decade.
So a counter-intuitive new approach to addiction was given four years - ish - to reduce suffering, and when suffering went up, cancelled.
Funny - the "throw them all in jail" approach was given about 70 years to work before anything else was tried - even though addiction often went up while doing that, too.
I've got no idea what would work best, but I'm 100% certain that comparing AB and BC is not a scientific comparison. Addiction went up in BC not because it was failing on a one-by-one basis (we really have no data on that) but because the input signal - the number of new addicts appearing every month - was going up. When Alberta experienced the same influx of new addicts, their numbers shifted the same way. The signal/noise ratio is very, very low.
You'd need a valid comparison that somehow compared success rates per thousand addicts, and I don't think we know how to do that, either.
Props to the commentator who said that "government" wasn't doing enough about all this. Thing is, private industry actually *created* the problem by lying about the addictiveness of opioids, and bribing doctors to prescribe them. But private industry hasn't stepped forward with their own solution for their own problem, either! What, guys? No miracle drug for this problem? Hard problems, of course, are all shifted to government; Big Pharma is already over the horizon with their payday - the Sacklers drained their company early on.
Perhaps the "throw them all in jail" approach is what kept addiction rates as low as they were for so long. I still remember the "just say NO" advertising campaigns from yesteryear. And the counter-intuitive approach you refer to was much longer than four years in BC where about 15 years ago the police quit arresting for small amounts of possession even though it was still against the law.
I did write the words "70 years", about the entire War on Drugs, so that includes the entire cocaine era of the 70s and 80s and the crack era of the 80s and 90s - during which, I assure you, addiction rates were not "low". It's not just that consumption went up, it's that the price of a gram of cocaine dropped from $500 in 1977 to $200 in 1988, indicating that supply was, um, high.
Many thanks for this Paul. I was given Oxycontin for very severe pain [ on a score of 1-10, I was at 15] for a period of 3 years. After an excellent recovery from surgery I then needed to stop the drug which had to be done very carefully and with doctor support. I was on the edge once but survived it. I can imagine and feel the suffering of addicts and think of them when I hear the statistics. I am one of the lucky ones.
Good that you are pursuing this tragedy. I am fortunate and glad to be a subscriber. Thanks again
I'm looking forward to your next two parts after this great intro into this complicated issue that needs policy solutions, not political gotcha points.
It is correct to say people everywhere are tired of seeing the homeless and addicted occupying our streets are equally tired of the tax dollars spent with no results. Applause to Alberta for trying something different. Good reporting Paul.
I find your article compelling, and the subject matter relevant and necessary to address. Alberta’s response surprises me. The revelation that Danielle Smith’s chief of staff Marshall Smith, was formerly a drug addict living on the streets was particularly striking. I am very interested in learning more about the "nine hours" you spent with him. Your observations are always fascinating and hopefully will encourage discussion. Thanks Paul
This is very good reporting. Thanks for the balanced approach. I am looking forward to the following episodes. I am quite familiar with the Norwood area of Edmonton just north and east of the Radius facility. All of the troubles with homelessness, drug use and everything that foes with it has a huge impact on everyone that lives in this area. It's important that in depth fact finding like this is made available to encourage everyone to support real actions instead of yelling at each other from opposing ideological tribal positions.
i cut my professional teeth detoxifying newborns from heroin, alcohol, and methadone, hundreds upon hundreds of them, in a public hospital nursery 30-40 years ago, pre-fentanyl. incidentally, having observed far more newborns exposed to crack cocaine than opioids, there is no newborn cocaine withdrawal syndrome. on the other hand, a learning disorder is almost guaranteed.
some people who see the particular suffering of opioid dependence in people of any age get an intense desire for redemption and rescue. be careful. this nut is very tough to crack. it ain't going away any time soon.
having been professionally immersed in the crack and heroin-related hiv epidemics simultaneously many decades ago, i don't think that everybody is susceptible. it might seem "viral", but i do not think it really is. it does seem like that though at times.
in nyc giuliani's goons did NOT not make the DECISIVE difference for the partial resolution of the crack epidemic. i think it "burned itself out", in part. those communities organized themselves, socially and culturally at the neighborhood and community level, to reject crack cocaine and heroin and eventually younger people in particular simply went another way.
but, be assured, there was no rescue. far too many adolescents and pregnant women are now using cannabis. far too many people are still drinking large amounts of alcohol, daily. massive numbers are dependent on the xanaxes of the chemical world. and yes, EVERYTHING should be legal.
so while everybody searches for quick resolution have patience, as hard as that is to conjure. believe me, i developed a serious case of desperation as i watched all those newborns roll through my nursery, puking, shaking, sweating, screaming, plus plus.
the reflex of abandoning a more public health approach and returning overwhelmingly to policing at this point is a mistake. law enforcement will be necessary, but neither the law nor religion will solve this. nevertheless, all approaches will be necessary. above all be patient and be careful. anti-opioid missionaries are less than useful in the long run.
unless of course, you are desperate enough to go the way of the philllipines and el salvador and, folks, that is a COMPLETELY different discussion.
incidentally, alcohol is a far larger problem. certainly the toxicity level for any given fetus is far higher than for other "hard" drugs. Fetal alcohol exposure is considered to be at the very top of any list of causes of intellectual disability. some think it is the leading cause.
and as canucks, always remember that y'all have been "sitting" on close to genocidal levels of substance use amongst 1st nations peoples for decades and doing "jack" about it. to some extent fentanyl is a big deal now because white people are in the middle of it.
Thank-you, that schooled me. An article years back opined that the crack epidemic was beaten in the end by "little brother theory" - that younger brothers watched their elder brothers shrink away and die from the stuff, and so never touched it. Gradually, that ethic spread.
I can't forget John Oliver in a circle of chairs with a support group, asking how many started their addiction with a pain prescription - and EVERY hand went up. I have hopes that the opioid epidemic, which started with prescriptions will begin to shrink as hangovers from that source are reduced.
The most-misunderstood part of this story is that the majority of the deaths are NOT in the neighbourhoods the column starts off in - but in paid-for homes to guys with jobs that used it when alone, and none to pick them up. The news story the day this came out was that construction sites want easy-to-use Naxalone on every site.
Thanks for taking the time to report back on the effect on babies.
Thank you. Very informative.
I appreciate your links to good articles on the current state of affairs elsewhere and especially BC. There's a lot of clutter without clarity in the media, perhaps understandably, and I tune out when there's little opportunity for better understanding. Looking forward to your next two articles.
I’m looking forward to this un-politicized journalism. I lost my son to an overdose a year ago. He had a degree in Economics, his MBA, and had been straight for almost two years. We were an ordinary middle-class family and never deserted him. I’m mentioning all this only to remind people that addiction can happen to the best kids, from the best families.
😥
Excellent work Paul, thank you. Regarding smoking versus injecting- it’s easier AND has a higher degree of efficacy as the drug passes through the lung’s extensive lining, entering the bloodstream as fast as fixing. Less hassle with than with rigs. Just a glass pipe or piece of foil, a lighter and…
I’m looking forward to the next instalments of your investigation, serious journalism versus the political BS of both the left and the right. There are no panaceas in this life. One day at a time. Thanks again 🙏❗️
Thanks for delving into this crisis. That so many members of our communities are suffering with crippling drug addictions is very very troubling and very very sad.
Perhaps your comment has merit that Pierre Poilievre is irresponsible by inferring that once we rid Canada of Justin Trudeau and his wacko policies regarding drug addiction is too simple a solution on the crisis. However, I would counter that Pierre Poilievre has done much to raise awareness of the issue, and most importantly raise awareness that our government is not adequately addressing the crisis.
Further, I cannot help but wonder if the legalization of cannabis has not swayed the public's mindset regarding acceptance of drug use and thus is a factor in bringing us where we are today.
The legalization of cannabis was only possible because the "public mindset" had changed years before. It took a while for those that had been angry at stigmatization for decades to realize they'd become a solid majority that had been too afraid to speak. Trudeau's move leapfrogged over the NDP "decrim" policy of years standing. "Decrim" had gone from "too radical" to "too half-hearted" during that decade.
So a counter-intuitive new approach to addiction was given four years - ish - to reduce suffering, and when suffering went up, cancelled.
Funny - the "throw them all in jail" approach was given about 70 years to work before anything else was tried - even though addiction often went up while doing that, too.
I've got no idea what would work best, but I'm 100% certain that comparing AB and BC is not a scientific comparison. Addiction went up in BC not because it was failing on a one-by-one basis (we really have no data on that) but because the input signal - the number of new addicts appearing every month - was going up. When Alberta experienced the same influx of new addicts, their numbers shifted the same way. The signal/noise ratio is very, very low.
You'd need a valid comparison that somehow compared success rates per thousand addicts, and I don't think we know how to do that, either.
Props to the commentator who said that "government" wasn't doing enough about all this. Thing is, private industry actually *created* the problem by lying about the addictiveness of opioids, and bribing doctors to prescribe them. But private industry hasn't stepped forward with their own solution for their own problem, either! What, guys? No miracle drug for this problem? Hard problems, of course, are all shifted to government; Big Pharma is already over the horizon with their payday - the Sacklers drained their company early on.
Perhaps the "throw them all in jail" approach is what kept addiction rates as low as they were for so long. I still remember the "just say NO" advertising campaigns from yesteryear. And the counter-intuitive approach you refer to was much longer than four years in BC where about 15 years ago the police quit arresting for small amounts of possession even though it was still against the law.
I did write the words "70 years", about the entire War on Drugs, so that includes the entire cocaine era of the 70s and 80s and the crack era of the 80s and 90s - during which, I assure you, addiction rates were not "low". It's not just that consumption went up, it's that the price of a gram of cocaine dropped from $500 in 1977 to $200 in 1988, indicating that supply was, um, high.
I look forward to reading these and gaining your insights, Paul, into a terrible situation that governments are doing far too little about.
Many thanks for this Paul. I was given Oxycontin for very severe pain [ on a score of 1-10, I was at 15] for a period of 3 years. After an excellent recovery from surgery I then needed to stop the drug which had to be done very carefully and with doctor support. I was on the edge once but survived it. I can imagine and feel the suffering of addicts and think of them when I hear the statistics. I am one of the lucky ones.
Good that you are pursuing this tragedy. I am fortunate and glad to be a subscriber. Thanks again
Kathleen
I'm looking forward to your next two parts after this great intro into this complicated issue that needs policy solutions, not political gotcha points.
It is correct to say people everywhere are tired of seeing the homeless and addicted occupying our streets are equally tired of the tax dollars spent with no results. Applause to Alberta for trying something different. Good reporting Paul.
I read this with a heavy heart.........just wish more people did!
We leave in the Ottawa Byward market, we see it every day. It feels like a hopeless situation.
I find your article compelling, and the subject matter relevant and necessary to address. Alberta’s response surprises me. The revelation that Danielle Smith’s chief of staff Marshall Smith, was formerly a drug addict living on the streets was particularly striking. I am very interested in learning more about the "nine hours" you spent with him. Your observations are always fascinating and hopefully will encourage discussion. Thanks Paul
Thanks, Paul.
This is very good reporting. Thanks for the balanced approach. I am looking forward to the following episodes. I am quite familiar with the Norwood area of Edmonton just north and east of the Radius facility. All of the troubles with homelessness, drug use and everything that foes with it has a huge impact on everyone that lives in this area. It's important that in depth fact finding like this is made available to encourage everyone to support real actions instead of yelling at each other from opposing ideological tribal positions.
Very good piece of journalism, Thx for taking the initiative (and time) to dig deep into this situation
I don't want to take away from your work Paul, but Adam Zivo over at the National Post has done some excellent reporting on this subject as well.
He sure has. I'll have a different perspective on some stuff, but his work is getting noticed in these circles.