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Naloxone information and training session well attended in west Lethbridge

Mar 23, 2017 | 10:14 PM

LETHBRIDGE – People from all  walks of life want to know how to potentially save someone’s life and reverse an overdose. That’s what you might notice attending one of the Opioid Awareness and Naloxone training sessions taking place in Lethbridge over the next few weeks.

At the first session, held at The Crossings Branch of the Lethbridge Public Library, about two dozen people attended, including young people, health care workers, former addicts, parents, caregivers and those who were simply curious about the extent to which opioid drugs have permeated society in general.

The first session was held March 23. The next two take place March 30 and April 4.

“I used to be an addict,” explains one man who declined to be named. “I wish these kits had been available back in my day.”

The man now works in the addictions field with former street people who currently have addictions.

He says he went through withdrawal half a dozen times before finally quitting cold turkey. He strongly believes that anyone with children who might experiment or use drugs, those who are related to addicts, and especially those who use drugs recreationally, should take the training sessions.

“They need to take (an overdose) into account, especially if they see indications in their kids.”

The 1.5-hour session, sponsored by Alberta Heath Services and ARCHES (AIDS Outreach Community Harm Reduction Education Support Society) delves briefly into the history of opioids, from the cessation of oxycodone production in Canada, to the rise of fentanyl and carfentanil.

Participants will also learn that fentanyl is 100 times more potent and toxic than morphine and heroine; carfentanil – 10,000 times more toxic than both.

In 2014, there were 120 fentanyl –only related deaths. 2015 saw 274, and in 2016 that number rose to 342 province-wide.

The naloxone training portion of the session demonstrates how to spot someone who overdoses and the steps that must be taken to respond:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7T5-94HLrc

  • Stimulate – can you wake the person up? If not, call 911
  • Airway – make sure there’s nothing in their mouth to stop them from breathing
  • Ventilate – Breathe for them using the one- way respirator
  • Evaluate – Are they any better?
  • Muscular Injection – Inject 1 ml of naloxone into a muscle
  • Evaluate again – Is the person breathing? If not awake in 2 min, another 1 ml dose is needed

Every person who attends, may also take home a naloxone kit for themselves, if they choose. Each kit includes one pair of gloves, 3 vials of naloxone, 3 safety syringes, 3 alcohol swabs, 1 one-way rescue breathing barrier mask and an instruction booklet.

To register for the sessions, or for more information, call 403-381-5183.