Opioid addiction target of $4M funding from N.L., feds

The Newfoundland and Labrador government hopes a new agreement with their federal counterparts willclose a gap for people needing substance abuse treatment in the province.

While in Winnipeg, Health Minister John Haggieand federal Minister of HealthGinettePetitpasTaylor signed an agreement under Canada's new emergency treatment fund.

• Where do the drugs go? N.L. has country's highest rates of drug losses from pharmacies

More than $4 million $2.7 million from the province and $1.6 million from the feds will be used to pay for case managers, primary care providers, and telemedicine, with a focus onopioidaddiction treatment.

Health teams created

Using a new model, Haggiesaid people will have more access to treatment in their own communities.

• When I think of an addict, I think of me

Four regionalhealth teams will be located around the province, withaccess to treatments like Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphineandnaloxonelauded across the country as the newest and best way to treat opioid addiction.

Video links and telehealth will provide access to people in communities where doctors don't have an office, Haggiesaid in an interview with CBCNews.

"We would have the ability [for people with addictions] to be seen immediately if it's during the working day or to be looked at overnight and then sent on where they can starttheir Suboxone that day," Haggie said.

"It's lowering the barriers to the point where people want to come forward and have some care."

Haggie wants to be able to treat those struggling with opioid addiction at the moment they decide they need help.

In addition to the regional groups, a provincial treatment centrewill be established in St. John's.

Nearly 4,000 people died across Canada last year because of an apparentopioid-involvedoverdose.

• Last year, 25 people in Newfoundland and Labrador died after taking drugs

Numbers released from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in February show25 people accidentally overdosed on drugs last year an increase of five people from two years ago.

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