The city’s deputy police chief is calling the federal government’s rejection to ban generic versions of OxyContin a huge step backwards.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq made the announcement Monday that the federal government will not delay or intervene in the approval of generic manufacturing of the drug. Aglukkaq stated in a release that a drug approval process based on politics was a recipe for disaster. Instead, the federal government decided to let the provinces deal with the matter.
Thunder Bay Police Service Deputy Chief Andy Hay said he was disappointed with the news. The private company that made OxyContin stopped making the painkiller in Canada and instead introduced OxyNEO. The alternative drug was intended to curb substance abuse.
But with the recent announcement, Hay said the government has taken them back to square one before OxyNEO was even introduced.
“I think from a policing perspective this is one huge step backwards,” he said. “We’re going to be inundated with criminal behaviour that’s associated with people seeking the drugs for their addictions. It’s going to negatively impact Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario and our Northern communities.”
Brenda Adams, owner of Janzen’s pharmacy, said with the arrival of the generic opioids, the price for OxyContin type drugs will go down.
“I guess the government is caught between a rock and a hard place with trying to do the right thing for the communities while still keeping drug costs down,” she said.
“I don’t know at what point but most certainly the generics will come out at less than the brand. It’s going to bring drug costs down again. I don’t know where it leaves the generics because the brand name is no longer on the market.”
Adams said they haven’t discussed the announcement in detail but felt that they are now starting back when OxyNEO was first introduced. While OxyNEO will still be around, Adams said the preference appears to be more towards OxyContin.
Alvin Fiddler, deputy grand chief for Nishnawbe Aski Nation, said he is also disappointed with the federal government’s decision.
He said it looks like the federal government is downgrading the problem to the provinces and pointed out that even Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews had expressed concern about the announcement.
“With more of these generic drugs available on the market there will be more drugs flowing into our communities,” Fiddler said.
“We are telling Health Canada and the federal government that it is their responsibility. They should not be just giving up, throwing up their arms, and saying this is a provincial issue. They have an obligation to work with us and address this.”
Fiddler added that he’s not sure if there’s been enough research done on OxyNEO and the other generic drugs and added that there needs to be more support in giving communities treatment and providing more opportunities to obtain other drugs such as Suboxone.
