Naloxone helping to combat Ontario’s worsening opioid crisis
With various support programs suspending or limiting services during the pandemic, access to naloxone kits is more important than ever
The number of opioid-related deaths has been high for years in communities across Ontario, but the pandemic has taken it to a whole new level.
A recent Public Health Ontario report showed that 2,050 people in Ontario have died of a confirmed or suspected opioid-related overdose during the pandemic from March 16 to Dec. 31, 2020.
That’s a 76.4 per cent increase over the same time period in 2019.
“COVID-19 has created barriers that have caused the closure, suspension and limited connection of drug user support programs and safe consumption.” says Rebecca Morris-Miller, founder of Grenfell Ministries and the National Overdose Response Service, in Hamilton. “I always have a naloxone kit with me, and I believe that better access to naloxone and training on how to use it is an important step in helping to address the opioid crisis.”
Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose until medical help arrives. Naloxone comes in both a nasal spray and an injectable format and is available to all Ontarians in local pharmacies. It is important to always read the product label and follow the directions for use. Although available to everyone, it’s important to call 911 before administering as it is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Many police officers, firefighters, paramedics and security guards now carry it, too.
With the growing toll of the opioid crisis, there is an urgent need to improve awareness of and access to naloxone. Community organizations and leaders, including pharmacists, are part of the solution in creating an environment where people can pick up naloxone kits without facing stigma. It’s also important that people recognize their risk of opioid poisoning and take steps to be prepared if an emergency occurs.
“Whether you are taking opioids with or without a prescription, the risk of an accidental poisoning is real, and it can happen to anyone,” says Paul Rosen Paralympic gold medalist and motivational speaker. “Opioid dependency almost took my life many, many times and I make it a priority to always have a naloxone kit with me. You never know when you might need it.”
People taking opioids, both prescription and non-prescription, and those around them should understand the signs of an opioid poisoning and have resources available to help. Ontarians can get a naloxone kit at their local pharmacy.