Health authority believes new guidelines revolutionize addiction treatment

published on November 3, 2015 by The Canadian Press in News1130

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver Coastal Health says it is developing a first-of-its-kind guideline as the health authority takes the lead in fighting opioid addictions.

The guideline is aimed at improving physicians’ knowledge of the many new treatments available for addiction to painkillers, in hopes of stemming the growing problem of fentanyl or other opioid overdoses.

Health authority spokesman Dr. Evan Wood says doctors are advised to begin treatment with a range of new, less toxic opioid replacements before trying methadone, which is effective but has many side effects.

The guideline also underlines the importance of recovery programs, recommending that initial treatment is not complete if follow-up care is absent.

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