OD antidote naloxone seeing wider use among public

It’s becoming increasingly common for a powerful antidote to opioid overdose to be administered by people who aren’t emergency personnel or medical professionals, as a recent case reported by Oak Bay police demonstrates.

A man was reported to be overdosing in an Oak Bay apartment complex. By the time police reached the building on Oak Bay Avenue, near Foul Bay Road, the man in distress had received naloxone from an acquaintance.

He was treated by B.C. Ambulance paramedics and sent to hospital.

Oak Bay Deputy Police Chief Ray Bernoties said he’s aware of one other similar instance in Oak Bay. It could soon become more common, as the B.C. Centre for Disease Control has broadened who can have access to naloxone kits that police, firefighters and paramedics carry.

Tracey Thompson, regional harm-reduction co-ordinator for Island Health, said the kits can be obtained from a variety of locations around the province — more than 1,300 sites are involved with the centre’s Take Home Naloxone program and naloxone no longer requires a prescription.

“If you are concerned about witnessing an overdose, or have a friend or loved one you’re concerned about, you can get a kit for free.”

In many cases, naloxone is needed to fight the effects of fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid that has been fuelling an overdose epidemic in B.C. Other common opioids are heroin, oxycodone, codeine and morphine.

Illicit drug overdoses were suspected in 134 B.C. deaths in July and 107 in June.

Giving a dose of naloxone requires an intramuscular injection, Thompson said. It will not cause harm if opioids are not present.

“The kit contains three doses of naloxone, a breathing mask, gloves, instructions and a form to fill out if you’ve used it,” she said.

“We also promote if you don’t have kit, you still can respond.” Rescue breathing is one of the other actions you can take in an emergency situation, she said.

Thompson said the website towardtheheart.com is a valuable resource for learning about naloxone kits, their use and their availability.