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This week, health officials have started offering injectable drugs to addicts. It's happening at the Health Services Centre on Doyle Avenue in Kelowna. The injections are 'Agonist' opioids, which means they are formulated to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It's expected that the program may save lives, but even some addicts are critical.
It means some addicts/patients who were offered these drugs orally, would instead be offered an injection.
"We would offer it to people we already have a connection with who have not been successful with the oral methodology," said I.H. Substance Abuse Administrator Danielle Cameron, "with the goal of transitioning them down once they're feeling stable and ready."
Some people including recovering addicts are critical. "I think that it just enables people to continue doing what they're doing," said one recovering addict. But another agrees with health officials that it's necessary to save lives, "Because with the fentanyl out there right? It's so addictive."
Cameron believes the program will be a lifesaver. "We know that with the opioid crisis, we're losing people to overdose every day, so anything we can do to help people operate in a more safe way helps to save lives."
There were over 1,500 overdose deaths in BC in 2018. It is a massive problem. But Cameron believes progress is being made. "Some of the stories we hearing out of the patients that we're involved with, tell us that we are," said Cameron. "We're helping people along their journey to recovery."
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