NDP bill would ban pill presses used to make doses of fentanyl, carfentanil

The provincial NDP introduced a bill on Wednesday to ban pill presses, devices used to manufacture pills the Opposition says are being used to make doses of opioids including fentanyl and carfentanil.

"This comes directly from families, from advocates, from front-line workers who work in addictions, who are telling us that banning pill presses will make a real difference in the number of overdoses and deaths we see in Manitoba," said Matt Wiebe, the NDP health critic.

Fentanyl and carfentanil are powerful, deadly opioidswith a rising death toll in Manitoba and Canada.

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If it passes, the bill would amend the Public Health Act to permit only pharmacists and other authorized people to possess the presses.

Similar legislation passed unanimously in Alberta in Mayand is before the house in B.C.

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Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen haspreviously said he would prefer to see a national ban on pill presses, as opposed to a provincial one.

Goertzensaid a Canada-wide ban would be more effective because the presses are available across the country.

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