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With coronavirus stories dominating the headlines, it’s easy to forget the other epidemic affecting Canadians: nearly 14,000 people have died of opioid overdoses in Canada since 2016.
Today in The Conversation Canada, Joel Lexchin of York University shines a light on the marketing practices used by pharmaceutical companies to promote opioid drugs to doctors. Pharma reps had plenty of good news about opioids, but often skipped over the risks. Researchers have identified these aggressive campaigns as a direct contributor to the current crisis.
It was terrible news that Canada's first death from COVID-19 has been reported, but let's also remember the thousands of Canadians dying from the opioid epidemic.
Also today:
A reminder that you can always get the latest news and advice from The Conversation global network on COVID-19 at this special page.
Regards,
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The way opioid drugs were marketed to doctors may have contributed to the opioid crisis.
AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
Joel Lexchin, University of Toronto; Barbara Mintzes, University of Sydney
Aggressive marketing of prescription opioids by pharmaceutical companies provided doctors with scant information about potential harmful effects.
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In-class and face-to-face experiences are uniquely valuable for students and should be protected at all costs. Here, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce speaks at at Queen’s Park in Toronto on March 3, 2020.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
Lana Parker, University of Windsor
Forcing parents or students to opt out of mandatory e-learning will only serve to normalize Ontario's push to cut costs at the expense of what's best for young people.
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The Canadian TV show ‘Hudson & Rex’ features actor John Reardon playing Det. Charlie Hudson and German shepherd Diesel vom Burgimwald as Rex.
Kendra Coulter, Brock University
A closer look at Canada’s hit TV show, 'Hudson & Rex', invites us to think differently about animals’ minds, work and contributions to our shared communities.
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In an era of data breaches and privacy intrusions, the majority of Canadians want paper bills. So why aren’t organizations listening to them?
(Shutterstock)
Joanne E. McNeish, Ryerson University
In an era of data breaches and data privacy concerns, governments should enshrine in law a requirement for companies and banks to send paper bills and statements in order to protect consumers.
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Il y a peu de recherche sur les troubles de santé mentale liés au jeu pour les pays africains, qui sont confrontés aux mêmes facteurs de risque que les pays occidentaux.
Faustin Etindele, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Il n'existe pas de données sur les troubles de santé mentale liés au jeu pour les pays africains, qui sont pourtant confrontés aux mêmes facteurs de risque que les pays occidentaux.
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COVID-19
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Maciej F. Boni, Pennsylvania State University
Initial data from the outbreak in China did not reveal as much information as scientists needed to assess the epidemic. Now, more accurate data suggest an epidemic worse than some previously thought.
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Martin J. Bull, University of Salford
An experiment in following China's lead while trying to respect democratic norms is causing tensions.
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Rebecca S.B. Fischer, Texas A&M University
From the neighborhood to the newsroom to the White House, nobody stays silent during a health emergency. These terms are often mixed up, and it matters who is using them and when.
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