In an effort to quell the country’s on going overdose crisis, Canada has become the first in the world to approve a drug to treat addiction.
Health Canada has approved injectable hydromorphone, a pain treatment drug, to treat severe opioid addiction.
While only 5 to 8 percent of those seeking addiction treatment would find the drug effective, approval means it will be easier to prescribe to those it can help.
There are already hundreds of individuals across the country using the drug to treat severe cases of opioid addiction.
Since 2016, more than 10 thousand Canadians have died from opioid related drug overdoses.
