The Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health has received extra provincial government funding to support its harm reduction program for opioids.
The extra $150,000 includes staff positions and Naloxone distribution to community-based organizations, as well as work on surveillance of opioid overdoses.
Medical resident Dr. Peter Oglaza says, “We are looking at a crisis.”
Speaking after the Board of Health meeting Wednesday, he said there are “some real high numbers of people dying from opioid overdoses” and the Naloxone program “brings people back from the ring of death.”
Last spring there were 50 Naloxone kits delivered, and now the number is at 188.
He doesn’t see concerns about a stigma attached to getting Naloxone kits, since public health protects privacy, and the kits are delivered through community agencies.
Oglaza says, “We still need to continue with our efforts for education treatment and I believe there’s going to be funding for that as well . We don’t know the details of that yet but the overall strategy rolled out by the ministry involves the prevention and treatment side of things.”
