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The original was posted on /r/onguardforthee by /u/pjw724 on 2024-07-24 15:08:57+00:00.

“We have a potential to really lose ground on a lot of initiatives that have been started that could address the opioid overdose crisis in meaningful ways,” said Dr. Ahmed Bayoumi of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, adding that the backlash was primarily driven by ideology.

Since 2016, more than 44,000 Canadians have died of opioid overdoses, according to the federal government.

…

But Tara Gomes, principal investigator at the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, says these initiatives save lives.

“If we take away harm reduction as one of the options available to people, ultimately all I can see happen is we’re going to see more people losing their lives. And that terrifies me.”