In its fight to curb ever-climbing overdose death rates, middle-class drug users have been a challenge to reach for health officials.

Part of fighting the overdose crisis means getting the right messaging across to the right people, according to IH medical health officer Dr. Silvina Mema. That includes letting people know help is available and conveying tried and true safety precautions when using drugs, such as not using alone and keeping naloxone on hand.

That can be an uphill battle, according to Mema, who said many people still believe the overdose crisis mostly or exclusively affects homeless or lower-class people.

香蕉视频直播淭hat is really a myth. It is true, in terms of many of those are dying. Being homeless is a risk factor, for sure,香蕉视频直播� Mema said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut they are not the only ones that are being affected by this crisis.香蕉视频直播�

For those on the street level, Mema said there have been some successes in getting some of the messages out to drug users.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been giving hundreds of naloxone, so people are understanding that they need to carry it, but at the same time there is more people dying than before,香蕉视频直播� Mema said. 香蕉视频直播淭he crisis is not stopping in a sense. 香蕉视频直播� This is a lot deeper problem than anybody imagined, really.香蕉视频直播�

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Mema said there are changes beyond messaging that need to be enacted to try to halt the overdose crisis 香蕉视频直播� particularly noting that the illegality of drugs has led to a number of issues, including a deregulation of drug purity and quality, as well as a demonization of drugs, and by extension drug users.

香蕉视频直播淭he war on drugs is what led us here. This is where we are, because drugs are illegal, and because people who use drugs are stigmatized, and they cannot talk about it, and because they have to use in a back alley or in a bathroom by themselves,香蕉视频直播� Mema said.

香蕉视频直播淣ow, we are beginning to talk about it, and people are beginning to be more comfortable.香蕉视频直播�

Particularly, Mema said health officials have been talking with homeless people about safe drug practices for so long that it has become less stigmatized for that social group.

香蕉视频直播淭hey have their friends, and they also use, but then there is a lot of people that are middle class that are marginalized in terms of they can香蕉视频直播檛 speak with their friends in a pub about their drug use because it香蕉视频直播檚 not what the other friends do,香蕉视频直播� Mema said.

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In places like Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Downtown Eastside, it香蕉视频直播檚 easier to provide help because of the open nature of the drug issue there.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been doing a lot of work toward these lower classes 香蕉视频直播� and they get it. They get it because we香蕉视频直播檝e been putting a lot of emphasis. They are comfortable going into an agency and asking for naloxone, because they are assumed to use drugs,香蕉视频直播� Mema said.

香蕉视频直播淭he other classes, where it香蕉视频直播檚 not normal to use drugs 香蕉视频直播� and it shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be; I香蕉视频直播檓 not trying to say that using drugs should be normal, but having a problem and being able to reach out for help 香蕉视频直播� that should be normal.

香蕉视频直播淭hese other classes, the higher classes, they are more isolated in their use. And that comes especially when they香蕉视频直播檝e gone through detox, or they香蕉视频直播檝e done treatment, and then they relapse. That香蕉视频直播檚 the most isolated.香蕉视频直播�

Part of that is because treatment will often encourage users to put up a wall between themselves and their old friends who use in order to keep away from drugs.

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香蕉视频直播淭hen if you relapse, then you香蕉视频直播檙e alone. Because you don香蕉视频直播檛 want anybody to know that you香蕉视频直播檝e relapsed,香蕉视频直播� Mema said, adding that those who have relapsed are often most at risk, having lost some tolerance.

香蕉视频直播淣ow, there is a big emphasis in trying to reach those who use alone 香蕉视频直播� the people who have not opened up to help, and how to bring those people out from the shade and offer them help and what help they need 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 the most difficult group to reach.香蕉视频直播�

A group of health officials is beginning to get together to try to determine how to reach those particular drug users, according to Mema, who is part of the group of officials.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檒l be exploring these groups in more detail, doing research projects there to understand how to reach them better.香蕉视频直播�

dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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