Liberal MP pleads with Aglukkaq to delay introduction of OxyContin clones

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq should remove OxyContin “clones” from the list of drugs covered by the federal government if she chooses to continue ignoring warnings that the generic versions of the addictive drug could wreck havoc in some First Nations communities, says Liberal Aboriginal affairs critic Carolyn Bennett.

APTN National News
OTTAWA–Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq should remove OxyContin “clones” from the list of drugs covered by the federal government if she chooses to continue ignoring warnings that the generic versions of the addictive drug could wreck havoc in some First Nations communities, says Liberal Aboriginal affairs critic Carolyn Bennett.

In a letter to Aglukkaq, Bennett warns the introduction of generic versions of OxyContin could have a disastrous impact on First Nations that are still struggling with the fallout from wide-spread OxyContin abuse.

“If you insist on ignoring the pleas of experts and community leaders regarding the approval of a new generic form of OxyContin, I implore you to ensure that it is removed from the Drug Benefit List,” wrote Bennett.

In the letter, Bennett asked the health minister to also delay the introduction of generic versions of the drug, which is no longer produced.

“I urge you to listen to the provincial and territorial health ministers, health professionals, law enforcement, addiction experts and Aboriginal leaders from across this country and delay the approval of a generic form of OxyContin,” wrote Bennett.

Bennett wrote that the introduction of the clones will add to the addiction crisis in northern First Nations. With OxyContin no longer in production, the price per pill has spiked to $1,000, she said.

“Dealers and traffickers are reaping enormous profits from the misery on remote First Nations,” wrote Bennett. “Despite this, you are proposing to make a cheaper formulation of the drug more widely available.”

Bennett quoted northern Ontario’s Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) deputy grand chief Alvin Fiddler warning that “with OxyContin clones on the market, it just means more drug flow to the north.”

Bennett also called out Aglukkaq for ignoring the NAN’s repeated requests for a meeting to discuss the issue and find ways to manage it.

“But you have not responded to these requests. I urge you to take this meeting and tour some of the NAN communities to see the impacts of this epidemic,” wrote Bennett. “You have the power to fix this public health emergency. Please do not make this terrible situation worse.”

NAN represents 49 northern Ontario First Nations communities that have battled widespread OxyContin addiction. In 2009, the organization declared a state of emergency over the issue. Some communities reported up to 80 per cent addiction rates among their people.

Bennett wrote that in the community of Cat Lake, children as young as 11 were addicted to the pill.

Aglukkaq has said it’s not up to politicians to pick and choose what drugs get approved.

“It’s a recipe for disaster for politicians to get involved in approving drugs,” said Aglukkaq at a press conference recently.