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Drug overdose
1
Combating Substance-Related Deaths in Nova Scotia
The Rising Toll of Substance Use
Team: Seraphim
November 29, 2024
The Faces behind the Crisis
Emotional debate in Nova Scotia's Legislation on Opioid Crisis:
"There was not a night that went by that I didn't think, 'this is probably going to be the night that I'm going to lose my daughter'"
First you take a drug then the drug takes a drug and then the drug takes you. (reworded)
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Call for Action on Youth Drug Support:
“I don't want to think that my daughter just was a number and died for no reason and no purpose”
The Faces behind the crisis
Addiction & Dependence
Cannabis the "Gateway Drug"
The Gateway Hypothesis (Kandel & Faust, 1970s) a sequence in substance use initiation.
alcohol →-> tobacco -> cannabis ->→ harder drugs.
Addcition & Depencence
Cannabis use affects adolescent emotion and cognition circuits
Cannabis may cause brain changes that can make a person more likely to develop an addiction to other drugs - Epidemiologic studies
Daily cannabis use among teens in NS is the 2nd highest in Canada at 9.1%
Hospitalizations
Nova Scotians face 58.2 weeks wait for care, x2 the national average.
58.2
weeks
Hospitalization
Drug-related ED visits forecasted to rise by 48% by 2028, straining healthcare further.
48%
Deaths
The Eastern Zone consistently records the highest fatality rates across years, calls for action.
Substance-related fatalities in by 2028 NS projected to rise steadily, reaching 135 by 2028
A 6% rise since 2023
Northern Zone: 28.15% increase, highlighting growing challenges
6%
28.15%
Death
Solution (Short term)- Placebo
Long-term
A proven method: Boost recovery adherence and reduce dependency in the ongoing crisis.
78% Retention Rate
Patients on placebo + methadone stayed in treatment longer than those on methadone alone (78% vs. 61%)
Two Approaches
Improved Sleep
Placebo-treated patients reported better sleep quality, boosting overall well-being
Placebo
Decieve
Truth
No Deception Needed
Worked even when patients knew they were taking them, challenging traditional beliefs
Low-Cost, High Impact
Placebo integration is low-risk, affordable, and practical for community-based settings
Doctors are commonly interspersing dummy drugs into pill regimens so patients won’t get so addicted to such drugs. (Israel, Denmark and US)
- Dr. Fabrizio Benedetti, Professor of physiology & neuroscience, University of Turin Medical School,
According to a study published in JAMA Network Open (2023) by researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine."
Save lives
Solution (Short term)- Placebo
Long-term
Implementation Plan
5
1
Awarenesss campaigns: Destigmatize and educate on placebo science
Integrate Placebos to existing harm reduction programs
Run pilot programs in Eastern NS.
3
1
4
2
Scaling & adoption: To other zones in NS.
Patient & Clinician engagement: Train staff in placebo communication strategies.
Implementation
Solution (Long-term)- Tailored Icelandic Model
Long-term
A proven community-driven strategy to address the root causes of substance use.
Cut down youth alcohol and smoking
What is Icelandic model?
Collaboration: Parents, educators, and community centers unite to guide youth.
Focus: Promote positive, constructive activities to deter drug use.
Goal: Build a supportive network to reduce youth substance use
87%
90%
Implemented Locally: The Undercurrent Youth Society has already adopted the Icelandic Prevention Model in rural Nova Scotia to address youth substance use.
Solution 2
Solution (Long-term)- Tailored Icelandic Model
Long-term
Strict enforcement of laws is crucial to prevent teens from Cannabis use
The EUSPR highlights Icelandic's model — such as alcohol policies, curfews, and parental involvement—cannot succeed without legislative backing. - According to European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR).
Fear Marketing: Learning through real life stories.
Bring Stories to Classrooms: Families who’ve lost loved ones share real-life accounts to emotionally connect with teens.
Impact: Empowers students with knowledge, deters risky behavior, and builds a culture of prevention.
"No family is immune to addiction." Justin’s story highlights how early substance use can spiral into lifelong struggles
Solution 2
Long-term
Thank you!
Sources:
https://data.novascotia.ca/Health-and-Wellness/Numbers-and-rates-of-substance-related-fatalities-/iu6y-z4n3/about_data
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/
https://hms.harvard.edu/news/open-label-placebo-improved-outcomes-opioid-use-disorder
https://vancouversun.com/health/local-health/taking-dummy-pills-might-reduce-dependence-on-addictive-drugs-expert-on-placebos-says
https://globalnews.ca/news/10730838/addictions-overdose-awareness-justins-story/
https://euspr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/EUSPR_Position-paper-Icelandic-model_long-version_EN.pdf
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/q/2019/qa-cannabis-gateway.pdf?la=en#:~:text=The%20gateway%20hypothesis%20overall%20has,the%20use%20of%20other%20substances.
https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cannabis-marijuana#references