Pubdate: Tue, 13 Dec 2016 Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON) Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group Ltd. Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Author: Liz Monteiro Page: B1 GRAND RIVER HOSPITAL GIVING OUT NALOXONE KITS KITCHENER - Grand River Hospital is joining local public health, pharmacies and Sanguen Health Centre in distributing life-saving naloxone kits to those who might be susceptible to an opioid overdose. The hospital in conjunction with the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council announced a pilot project this week in which the emergency department will distribute naloxone to those patients at risk of an opioid overdose. Patients can be recreational users or those on prescription opioid medication. "We are another piece in the puzzle. It's another venue where people can receive these kits and we can reach people in need," said Dr. Rupinder Sahsi, emergency room physician at Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital. Sahsi said it's common to see a non-fatal overdose at Grand River's emergency department each day. "It's been fairly steady with periodic spikes," said Sahsi. Once such spike occurred in October when five people overdosed in two days after taking heroin laced with fentanyl. Waterloo Regional Police believe it was being sold from a house in the area of Victoria Street South and Grand Avenue South in Cambridge. All survived the overdoses with at least one person requiring naloxone, a drug given to reverse the effects of an overdose. Police received a 911 call from the Bridges shelter where a couple overdosed on heroin and fentanyl. The man might have died if someone at the shelter had not given him naloxone, police said. Naloxone counteracts the effects of opioid drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone and methadone. Sahsi said the steady numbers of daily opioid overdoses has been occurring since 2013. "The volumes are fairly steady," said Sahsi, who regularly responds to local paramedics asking for permission to administer naloxone on 911 calls. The hospital has 100 kits that will be given out at the discretion of the emergency room doctor, said Sahsi. The hand-held pouched kit includes two doses of naloxone, syringes, gloves, rescue breathing mask and instructions. In Waterloo Region, about 700 people are seen in emergency departments annually because of drug overdoses. In 2015, 26 of those overdoses were fatal, said Michael Parkinson of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council. The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario estimates that more than 700 people died from opioid toxicity in Ontario in 2015. Opioid overdoses are the third leading cause of death in Ontario. Sahsi warns that the naloxone kits are not a cure, but rather reverse the effects for about 30 minutes. It's imperative medical attention is sought immediately, he said. "Naloxone kits are another step in reducing the harm of these substances that are in our community," he said. The following is a list of locations offering naloxone kits: Health Care Centre Pharmacy, Grand River Hospital: 835 King St. W., Kitchener: 519-749-4227 Sanguen Health Centre, 29 Young St. E., Waterloo Region of Waterloo Public Health (dispensing programs are held from the public health office by appointment or drop in on Fridays from 1-3:30 p.m.): 150 Main St., Kitchener, 99 Regina St., Waterloo The Pharma Shoppe, 25 Joseph St., Kitchener Preston Medical Pharmacy, 125 Waterloo St. S., Cambridge Doon Village Pharmacy, 601 Doon Village Rd., Kitchener Drug Basics, Unit 560, 1405 Ottawa St. N., Kitchener Grand Pharmacy, 304 St. Andrews St., Cambridge Rexall Drugstore, 585 Weber St. N., Waterloo Town Square Pharmasave, 100 Mill St., New Hamburg Grand River Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy, 835 King St. W., Kitchener - --- MAP posted-by: Matt