By Nav Persaud Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare, cost of drugs, cost of pharmaceuticals, essential medicines, health care, Health policy, Pharmacare, pharmacare program, Podcasts, policy
Nav Persaud says a national drug plan would save lives, save money, and encourage better prescribing habits. So what are we waiting for? Nav Persaud is an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, a physician and associate scientist at St Michael’s Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Interview by Neeta das McMurtry for EvidenceNetwork.ca SaveSave
By Kate Smolina and Kim Rutherford health care, Health policy, opiods, opioids addiction, Podcasts, policy
Canada has an opioid problem and it’s more widespread than fentanyl on our streets: We are becoming increasingly dependent on doctor-prescribed opioids. Drs. Kate Smolina and Kim Rutherford explain why and how to kick our prescription opioid habit. Kate Smolina is an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Population […]
By Kate Smolina and Kim Rutherford addiction, chronic pain, mental illness, opioid overdose, opioids, overdose, pain treatment, prescription drug abuse, Prescription opioid crisis, prescription painkillers
Across Canada, the tragic spike in opioid-related deaths has brought to national attention the large and complex issue of drug use and misuse.
By Nicole F. Bernier Canada’s healthcare system, Canadian healthcare system, chronic care, cost of drugs, drug cost, drug overuse, over-prescribing, prescribing, prescription, seniors, seniors assistance
Four years ago, at age 84, my dad survived a severe stroke. The downside is that during his hospital stay this otherwise fit person was put on a drug regimen and has been taking nine prescription drugs a day ever since.
By David Juurlink addiction, overdose, oxycodone, pain treatment, Pharmaceutical industry, Pharmaceutical policy, prescription drug abuse, prescription drugs, Prescription opioid crisis, prescription painkillers
Over the past year I’ve lost track of how many times the opioid epidemic has, in one incarnation or another (Prince, naloxone, fentanyl, newborns in agonizing withdrawal and so on) found its way onto the front page news.
By Tara Gomes Canadian health care, Canadian healthcare system, codeine, deprescribing drugs, drugs, Opioid crisis, over-prescribing, overdose, prescription, Prescription opioid crisis, prescription opioids
Hundreds of codeine tablets stolen from the medicine cabinet of an elderly person living alone in a rural community. Hydromorphone tablets being distributed at weddings and high school parties. Fentanyl patches being cut up and sold for a profit on the street. This is the reality of the opioid crisis in Canada today
By Alan Cassels deprescribing drugs, drug overuse, elderly patients, seniors
The case of ‘too much medication’ in Canadian seniors is finally starting to be recognized for the serious problem it has become.
By Alan Cassels overdose, prescription narcotics, Prescription opioid crisis, prescription opioids, prescription painkillers
By all accounts we are in the midst of a deadly drug epidemic so severe and widespread few people in North America will remain untouched by it.