The Effects of The Opiate Crisis Within Canada and The United States

While walking around, there are definitely a few problems that you’ll come upon. However, one that is constantly noticeable, is the constant rise in nation-wide drug crises. While yes, it’s always been around, there are certain things that led to populations across Canada and the United-States being continuously affected by opiate addiction.

Where to begin?  The year to landmark the crisis was the beginning of the 80’s. Starting with the rise in prescription usage of opiates. The on-going conversation is about how the FDA and Pharma companies contributed to the opioid crisis. According to Canada.ca, the opioids sold to hospitals has increased by over 300%. Leading to over 20 million dispensed prescriptions within pharmacies.  Reminder, these statistics are only within Canada. Many say that pharmacies began to prescribe opiates for individuals experiencing pain, mainly wanting to target the on-going problem of untreated pain.

However, The American Medical Association says otherwise. They wrote an article in 2020 focused on the drug crisis along with how the FDA and Pharma contributed. Essentially stating that for decades, drug companies have deceptively pushed the usage of opiated that were often known to have addicting states and were not safe or effective. This contribution to increase in prescriptions, led to the wide-spread issue of opiate addiction. Not only within the states, but into Canada as-well. According to NCDAS, there is a 1.9% increase in drug usage each year. Americans aged 12 and older, an estimated 47.7 million were using. This was taken in 2023. According to Canada.ca, approximately 1.1 Canadians over the age of 15 are reported to have been harmed or affected by personal drug use.

I feel that’s its extremely important to emphasise that these statistics have been done years ago and have only grown since. These are also over certain ages, such as 15 & 12. Some may think it’s not around, but drug use in children is a real issue. Stemming from the wide-spread drug crises.

This does not only affect the individuals who come in contact with drugs, but it has a long-time effect on their loved ones and families. Learn Genetics Utah did a study based on the risk of a person’s risk on drug addiction based off genes. They concluded that genetics account for in-between 40-60% of their risk to addiction. Genes play a huge role. Not only that, but the housing situations and financial situation that these issues can lead to. Drug addiction can overtake your entire life, even if you didn’t want it to. It will take your money, your families and friends. Coming from someone who’s been around it, having drug addiction used around you as a child, has a huge effect as to how you develop; how you form relationships, and how you were cared for. It is an unsafe environment that has evolved due to the overgrown crisis of drugs in our neighbourhoods.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there is help.

Mental Health and Addictions Phone Line Canada:

1-833-553-6983

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations USA:

800-662-HELP (4357