VANCOUVER—Health Canada plans to restrict six chemicals used to make fentanyl as part of Ottawa’s attempt to address what it calls the national opioid crisis. Health Minister Jane Philpott says a bill brought in by Sen. Vern White means the federal government can act quickly to make the unauthorized import and export of the chemicals illegal. In a news release, Health Canada says its regulatory proposal expeditiously achieves the intent of White’s bill. Philpott says she is also planning a summit to take place this fall to address the opioid crisis. In British Columbia, a joint task force examining the drug overdose crisis used International Overdose Awareness Day to highlight steps the province is taking on opioid overdoses.

Source: thestar August 31, 2016 21:22 UTC