The increase in benzodiazepine-laced drugs and related risks in Canada: The urgent need for effective and sustainable solutions.
Int J Drug Policy
; 111: 103933, 2023 Jan.
Artículo
en Inglés
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2310717
ABSTRACT
The overdose crisis in Canada has continuously evolved and is increasingly challenging to contain, while efforts from governments and policymakers to address it have often fallen short and resulted in unintended consequences. One of the main repercussions has been an unprecedented rise in adulterants in the illegal drug supply, including a wide array of pharmacological and psychoactive compounds and chemicals, which has resulted in a progressively toxic drug supply. Most recently, there has been a stark increase in synthetic benzodiazepine-laced opioids (i.e., 'benzodope') in some Canadian jurisdictions. This unique combination carries distinct and amplified risks for people who use drugs including fatal and non-fatal overdoses, increased dependence and withdrawal symptoms, and places them in extremely vulnerable positions. The emergence of benzodiazepines within the illicit drug supply has substantially contributed to drug-related morbidity and mortality in Canada, and has further complicated current public health initiatives and overdose prevention efforts. This reality underscores the need for effective and sustainable policy solutions to address the evolving overdose epidemic including increased knowledge and education on the specific harms of opioid and benzodiazepine co-use (especially in regards to the complexity of opioid/benzodiazepine overdoses), scaling-up harm reduction measures, and eliminating the toxic drug supply altogether.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
Disponible
Colección:
Bases de datos internacionales
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Drogas Ilícitas
/
Sobredosis de Droga
Tipo de estudio:
Estudio experimental
/
Estudio observacional
/
Estudio pronóstico
Límite:
Humanos
País/Región como asunto:
America del Norte
Idioma:
Inglés
Revista:
Int J Drug Policy
Asunto de la revista:
Salud Pública
/
Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Artículo
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