Prince George naturopathic doctor Deborah Fair is calling on the provincial government to expand the scope of practice for B.C.’s naturopathic doctors so they can prescribe immediate-release, safer supplies. There is.
Deborah Fair, a naturopathic doctor in Prince George, said a lack of doctors, registered nurses, psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners authorized to prescribe life-saving alternatives is contributing to the number of opioid deaths. He says that it has become.
She is calling on the provincial government to expand the scope of practice for B.C.’s naturopathic doctors, who can prescribe immediate-release, safer supplies and also prescribe opiate agonist therapy (OAT), which eliminates cravings for hard drugs. I am asking you to do this. OAT allows people with opioid use disorder to maintain a job throughout their day and function in society.
“We have a public health emergency and we need someone to take over the ball and make this happen,” Fair said. “There are more patients in need of care than there are providers. Naturopathic doctors seek access because there is a clear shortage of primary care providers. There aren’t enough people to do it.”
On average, nearly six people die every day in British Columbia from uncontrolled drug overdoses. That’s 41 people dying every week. If this trend continues, 2,165 people will die this year.
On November 1, a report from the BC Coroner’s Death Investigation Committee recommended that the quickest way to reduce opioid-related deaths is to reduce reliance on the supply of toxic street drugs. It means giving 100,000 British Columbians diagnosed with opioid use disorder and at risk of death access to a quality-controlled, regulated supply of medicines.
Fewer than 5,000 people now have access to safer prescriptions in B.C.
There are more than 700 naturopathic doctors in B.C., most of whom already prescribe prescription drugs. Farr said that in order for naturopathic doctors to have a safer supply and impact on reducing drug-related deaths by prescribing OAT, they need to be able to bill the health system for those patient visits. It also states that there is. She said they should have access to medical testing, diagnostic and specialist referral agencies.
“Essentially, we function as primary care providers, like a nurse or a general practitioner,” she said. “We don’t need to go to another country to recruit, train and license health-care workers, because there are already 633 Because there are people (prescribing) naturopathic doctors.”
The Canada Health Act does not require provinces or territories to pay for naturopathic medicine, and B.C. does not fully fund naturopathic doctors. They operate outside of a medical service plan, much like dentists, and many patients pay for their services out of pocket.
“Until natural health services are equally funded, there will still be barriers for people who are unhoused and dependent on social services. The only people who can give money to others are those who are employed and benefit.”
In September 2020, a letter was sent by Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu to state health ministers, urging governments and health professionals at all levels to provide drug users with a full range of options for accessing drugs. He urged immediate action to do everything in his power. A pharmaceutical-grade alternative to toxic street supplies. Three years after that letter was sent, that barrier still exists.
In 2018, the British Columbia Naturopathic Physicians Association launched a campaign to provide British Columbians with enhanced primary care services, giving the province access to federally controlled substances and the ability to refer patients directly to specialists. I asked for The petition has received thousands of signatures, but Mr Farr said Health Minister Adrian Dix had chosen not to follow the group’s recommendations.
“Most patients just want access to primary care,” Farr says. “Naturopathy is an opportunity to improve primary care in this province, yet the government is not acting on that opportunity. It’s as simple as that.”
Pear said progressive policies are needed to solve the opioid crisis and society cannot afford to turn its back on the issue. He said the cost of a program to provide alternative drugs that keep people alive and functioning is justified if it reduces overdose deaths and reduces property crimes caused by drug addiction.
“There are people who are sick, and there are people who turn to crime to finance their addictions. So the whole community is being victimized by people getting into a spiral of drug seeking.” Mr. Fair said.
“I think what people don’t think about is the social cost of addiction,” she says. “If people’s lives are stable, we hope that the cycle of having to seek relief from the supply of toxic drugs will be broken. Naturopathic doctors are part of the team treating this vulnerable population. We want to be part of the solution.”
