An opioid overdose alert is being issued for Northumberland County after a noticeable increase in overdoses over the past 30 days.
Health Promoter with Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge District health unit Kate Hall says that hospital data shows there were three overdoses this past weekend.
Hall says recent data shows an increase in youth overdoses.
And she says, “We want to remind parents and guardians about the importance of talking to their children about drugs.”
The district health unit reminds anyone who uses drugs to test a small amount of drug before use and never use alone.
It adds call 911 in the event of a overdose and avoid mixing drugs.
HKPR also recommends keeping a naloxone kit on hand and reminds you that you can get the kit at most pharmacies and needle exchange sites.
The HKPR District Health Unit’s opioid overdose alert automatically flags the problem for community partners and first responders, which triggers enhanced outreach efforts and distribution of naloxone kits.
Naloxone is an emergency medicine that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose until the victim can get to hospital for treatment.
• Test a small amount of drug before you use.
• Never use alone. If you are alone, call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) virtual safe consumption
at 1–888–668–NORS (6677), or use a buddy system and call a friend.
• Call 9–1–1 in the event of an overdose.
• Avoid mixing your drugs.
• Keep a naloxone kit on hand. You can get a naloxone kit at most pharmacies and needle exchange sites.
The HKPR District Health Unit’s opioid overdose alert automatically flags the problem for community partners and first
responders, which triggers enhanced outreach efforts and distribution of naloxone kits. Naloxone is an emergency medicine that
temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose until the victim can get to hospital for treatment. Naloxone is
recommended to be used in all suspected drug overdoses, due to the possibility of opioid contamination or poisoning.
Naloxone kits are also available for people who use opioids, as well as their family and friends. These can be picked up at Health
Unit offices, local pharmacies, and other locations. Where to get a free naloxone kit | Ontario.ca
Anyone who sees a person overdosing is also urged to intervene. Call 9–1–1 and give the person naloxone. The Good Samaritan
Act protects anyone trying to help in an emergency from possible legal repercussions. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act also
protects people on the scene of an overdose from being charged for possessing or using drugs.
Signs of an overdose include very large or very small pupils, slow or no breathing, cold and clammy skin, blue or purple fingernails
or lips, and snoring or gurgling sounds. Often in drug overdoses, it is also difficult to wake up the person.
For local opioid overdose incidents, visit the HKPR District Health Unit’s Opioid Overdose Report dashboard. People can also use
the online submission form to anonymously report overdoses and drug–related information to assist in a quicker response to
these incidents.
