Pubdate: Wed, 09 Dec 2015
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Johanna Weidner
Page: B5

NALOXONE PROGRAM SAVING LIVES: REPORT

Drug Given to People WHO Have Overdosed on Opioids Has Prevented at 
Least 23 Deaths in a Year

WATERLOO REGION - At least 23 people were saved in one year thanks to 
a regional program that offers a drug to reverse the effects of an 
accidental overdose.

Reducing preventable deaths from opioid overdose is the goal of the 
naloxone distribution program, which trains people how to give the 
drug and supplies them with a kit.

"Participant education and training is an important component," said 
Kathy McKenna, a nurse at Region of Waterloo Public Health.

Public health offers naloxone to people who have a history of opiate 
use, as does Sanguen Health Centre, a clinic for people living with 
or at risk of hepatitis C, which has Waterloo and Guelph offices.

Sanguen has been running the program for two years, while public 
health began in June 2014. A report on the first full year was 
presented to a regional council committee on Tuesday morning.

In that year, 64 people were trained and 96 kits were handed out, 
including both first-time and replacement kits.

Overdose victims survived in 23 out of 24 incidents where naloxone 
was administered. In one case the reporting person was unsure because 
they left after giving the drug.

The report notes the numbers may not capture all the incidents 
because people may have gotten kits outside the region or used the 
medication without reporting it.

Most often, the drug was given by a friend - nearly 80 per cent of 
the reported cases - and then next by a stranger, at 12.5 per cent.

Heroin, amphetamines and hydromorphone were the most commonly used 
substances by program participants, and were also most likely to be 
used on a weekly or daily basis. Heroin was involved in nearly 92 per 
cent of overdose incidents where naloxone was given.

The highest proportion of participants were age 20 to 29, although 
ages ranged from 16 to 57. Just over half were male.

Councillors were told the use of naloxone can be life changing, 
rather than as a crutch to continue abusing drugs.

"It's not a medication that actually increases substance abuse," 
McKenna said. "It actually gets them to look at their substance use."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom