1. A Call for an Evidence-Based Strategy Against the Overdose Crisis.
- Author
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Krausz, R. Michael, Westenberg, Jean N, Tai, Andy M.Y., Fadakar, Hasti, Seethapathy, Vijay, Mathew, Nick, Azar, Pouya, Phillips, Anthony, Schütz, Christian G, Choi, Fiona, Vogel, Marc, Cabanis, Maurice, Meyer, Maximilian, Jang, Kerry, and Ignaszewski, Martha
- Subjects
DRUG overdose ,SUBSTANCE abuse ,CRISES ,COVID-19 pandemic ,DEATH rate - Abstract
The article discusses the current overdose crisis, which is a significant public health challenge in the field of mental health and substance use disorder care. The increase in mortality is primarily due to changing drug markets and patterns of substance use, as well as an ill-prepared system of care. Fentanyl has become the dominant drug of choice among many people who use drugs, and the rise in overdose deaths in North America has been dramatic. The article explores the concept of "safe supply," which involves providing high-potent psychotropic substances outside of a therapeutic context to reduce overdose risk. However, there is a lack of large-scale effectiveness studies on safe supply, and caution is expressed by experts regarding the potential risks and lack of evidence for its benefits. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating pharmacotherapy and psychosocial care, as well as learning from successful approaches in other countries such as Portugal and Switzerland. It also highlights the lessons that can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based approaches in addressing public health crises. Overall, the article calls for a comprehensive and evidence-based strategy to address the overdose crisis, taking into account the complexities and diverse needs of individuals with substance use disorders. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
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