Pubdate: Mon, 27 Mar 2017
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Johanna Weidner
Page: B1

SEARCH FOR NALOXONE KITS NOW EASIER

Provincial website has list where to find the drug that can
temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose

WATERLOO REGION - People eager to get a naloxone kit and training on
how to use it can now easily search online for local places that stock
them.

The province has a searchable list of participating pharmacies and
community organizations offering for free the medication that can
temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.

"It's good news for Ontarians. It's progress and hopefully there's
more to come," said Michael Parkinson of the Waterloo Region Crime
Prevention Council.

Parkinson said this is the first time the Ontario government has
opioid overdose content on its website.

Advocates have been pushing for a naloxone locator
tool.

"It makes it very easy for people who are at risk of an overdose or
their friends and family to locate it," Parkinson said.

Until now, community organizations have been "scrambling to cobble
together" the information in order to make it available to clients in
the absence of senior-level support.

"That was happening right across Ontario in so many communities. This
takes the pressure off the local level and frees people up to do other
life-saving work," Parkinson said. "We're pleased to see it arrive."
He urges people to call a pharmacy first before going there to ensure
they have naloxone kits in stock.

The section on the webpage explaining who is at risk for an opioid
overdose doesn't show the whole picture, Parkinson said.

All the risk factors are related to illegal use, but many overdoses
are among people who are using opioids as prescribed by their doctor.

"That doesn't show up on this website," Parkinson said.

Prescribed users are also at risk of an overdose, not just those who
are misusing opioids.

"That's important, but it's not the whole story," Parkinson
said.

People eligible to get a free kit include: a current opioid user or a
past user at risk of using again; a family member, friend or other
person able to help someone at risk of an opioid overdose, a client of
a needle syringe program or hepatitis C program; someone newly
released from a correctional facility.

Participating pharmacies offer free injectable naloxone kits. A
prescription is not needed, but an Ontario health card is.

A pharmacist will explain how to recognize an opioid overdose and how
to use the kit.

Community-based organizations offer naloxone nasal spray and training.
No prescription or an Ontario health card is required to get free
nasal spray naloxone kits from needle syringe and hepatitis C programs.

Find the online naloxone kit search at 
www.ontario.ca/page/get-naloxone-kits-free
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MAP posted-by: Matt