AIAI Calling Health Canada to Delay the Approval of Generic Oxycontin

For Immediate Release

November 20, 2012

London, ON – The Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI) is profoundly disappointed by Health Canada’s announcement to not interfere with the regulatory approval process for a generic form of OxyContin.

Grand Chief Gord Peters asks Federal Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, to reconsider her decision and delay the approval process for generic OxyContin for a more in-depth study on the potential social impacts that the generic and cheaper version of OxyContin could have on the general public and communities who are struggling with substance abuse issues.

“Many First Nation communities are struggling with substance abuse and addiction to prescription drugs, the approval of an inexpensive generic version of OxyContin is only going to intensify these problems and strengthen its grip on our communities.” stated Grand Chief Peters.

There has been unanimous agreement among provincial and territorial health ministers, health-advocacy groups and First Nations communities that the approval of generic OxyContin in Canada needs to be postponed to further understand the negative implications it can have in our communities. Aglukkaq has recently announced that Health Canada will not take any action in the regulatory approval process for a generic form of OxyContin.

In order to prevent the abuse of the highly addictive painkiller, Health Canada is adding new licensing rules that requires manufactures and distributors to report spikes in sales and distribution patterns, in addition to the current requirements to report loss and thefts.

Deputy Chief Denise Stonefish added, “The new rules and conditions on the distribution of generic OxyContin is not going to prevent misuse and abuse. It’s a band-aid solution from a Federal department who fails to take any responsibility for releasing this into Canada and who fail to see how serious of a threat this generic drug is posing to our communities.”

The AIAI is mandated as a political territorial organization to defend and enhance the Indigenous and Treaty rights of its eight member First Nations. Visit them online at www.aiai.on.ca,https://twitter.com/aiai_comms, www.facebook.com/aiai.pto, www.youtube.com/user/AIAIAdmin.

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 For more information please contact: Zachariah General – AIAI at 519-434-2761 or by email at zgeneral@aiai.on.ca .

NT5