The drug poisoning crisis in Alberta continues to claim record numbers of lives after nearly a decade, creating devastating ripple effects across communities and placing extraordinary pressure on healthcare professionals who struggle to provide care with insufficient support.
Healthcare Workers Bear the Brunt
A groundbreaking new report from Parkland Institute examines how Alberta's toxic drug crisis affects healthcare professionals across the province. The study surveyed and interviewed members of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), which represents approximately 30,000 healthcare professionals including physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians, and numerous other specialists.
The research revealed that 69% of participants reported their work was significantly affected by the drug poisoning crisis. Healthcare workers, particularly those stationed outside hospitals or in emergency departments, indicated that working with people experiencing addiction had become a constant and overwhelming aspect of their jobs.
Inadequate Support and Rising Violence
Despite the magnitude of the crisis, healthcare professionals receive minimal support to handle these challenging situations. Participants reported receiving basic naloxone training for overdose reversal, but little beyond that essential skill. Many said their requests for continuing education opportunities were routinely denied by managers citing chronic staff shortages.
The study uncovered alarming rates of workplace violence, with 50% of surveyed healthcare workers experiencing emotional abuse more than three times in the past year. Participants also reported high incidences of threats and feeling unsafe at work, creating an environment of constant stress and anxiety.
Paramedics and other professionals working outside hospital settings faced additional risks due to reduced support availability. The emotional toll became so severe that one participant disclosed spending one-third of their paycheck on therapy simply to continue working each day.
Pathways to Improvement
The report identifies several concrete measures that could improve both patient care and working conditions. Healthcare professionals expressed that having the ability to make service changes at the local level would help address recurring problems more effectively.
Workers called for enhanced employee benefits, particularly increased coverage for counseling and mental health support. The study also emphasized the importance of better training for clinical managers, noting that improving supervisors' skills could benefit entire teams of healthcare workers.
Additionally, participants requested more support for processing grief when patients die from drug poisoning, along with increased opportunities to connect with colleagues who share similar experiences and understand the unique challenges they face daily.
These high rates of workplace violence and emotional strain demonstrate that Alberta's opioid crisis requires more comprehensive management strategies that prioritize the wellbeing of both patients and the healthcare professionals dedicated to saving lives.
