Conservatives Criticize Govt. Opioid Plan
The Conservatives led by Mai Mercado are unimpressed with the government’s proposal to curb opioid abuse and illegal sales, calling it ‘politics at its worst’. According to Mercado, the issue demands holistic action that should have been initiated long ago. The government has been criticized for delaying action; a report highlighting the high danger of opioids was held for nine months before coinciding its release with the Prime Minister’s visit to a rehab center. The government proposal includes a ban on eight synthetic opioids, increased drug surveillance, tougher penalties for sales, and more treatment options, but lacks detail on penalty specifics and start dates. While the Conservatives view the proposal as insufficient, Socialdemocrat spokesperson Maria Durhuus insists the government is actively working on the issue and criticizes politicizing the matter, rather than focusing on policies to help affected children and young adults.