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For many residents of the Okanagan, the fatalities caused by illicit drug use may seem a distant problem with little to no impact on your life. However, everyone has a role to play in preventing overdoses.

BC has recorded the highest number of fatal overdoses in a single month, with deaths overtaking those due to COVID-19 in the whole year. During May, 170 individuals lost their lives due to illicit drug overdoses, where COVID-19 has caused 167 deaths in the entirety of 2020.

Of these overdose deaths, 82% involved fentanyl. Fentanyl is a strong opioid painkiller, 100 times stronger than morphine. It is often mixed with heroin or crack cocaine to enhance the effects, not always with the users knowledge.

Despite an initial reduction in overdose related deaths in 2019, fatalities have surged since the start of the pandemic. This is in part due to regular supply chains being cut off, and users having limited access to overdose prevention sites or drug checking services.

Interestingly, there were no deaths at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites across B.C. in May, when these figures were released.

So what can you do?

There are several steps you can take to have a positive impact on the community in Kelowna, in terms of reducing harm caused by illicit drug use.

If you see someone in the street that looks like they could be having an overdose, stop and check theyre OK. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, call RCMP for a wellness check or 911 for an ambulance.

The signs of an overdose include not breathing or breathing very slowly, blue tinged lips or fingertips, an unusual gargling or snoring sound, or that the individual cant be woken and doesnt respond to pain.

If you see someone that could be overdosing, shake the person, shout at them and try to get a response to pain (squeeze their shoulder tightly in your hand). If theres no response, call 911 immediately.

Turn the individual on their side to prevent them from choking, and stay with them until help arrives.

To provide even more help, carrying and understanding how to use a naloxone kit is the best way to prevent deaths from overdose. The kits are free, and available from most pharmacies without a prescription. Carrying a kit in your car is a hugely important step in helping to save someones life; even if you dont feel comfortable using it, someone else at the scene may be able to.

Aside from saving someones life from the immediate effects of an overdose, there are other ways you can help in the bigger picture.

If you know someone that actively uses, support them in seeking help. Connecting with someone in the grips of addiction can be tough, but your support is vital in empowering them to get treatment and stay clean. Offer to accompany them to appointments, and ask them how you can help. Even alcohol addiction can lead to overdosing, so reach out now to anyone you know that is struggling.

Help to reduce the stigma around illicit drug use and overdosing by talking openly with your kids, teenagers and adult children about drug use. Discuss the reasons people use drugs, as well as the risks involved, to help reduce the likelihood of harm and encourage healthy behaviours.

The Okanagan has many supportive housing facilities and centres with drug overdose prevention sites or drug checking facilities. Although you may feel uncomfortable with one of these centres being in your neighbourhood, engage with the staff and residents at the centre to fully understand what it means to be tackling addiction, and how overdose prevention sites are helping. Many centres run community engagement days to help build bridges in the neighbourhood; even if you dont approve, educating yourself is key to understanding the reasons behind these facilities.

Overdoses are common, but they are also preventable. Empower yourself and your family to reduce stigma, help others and ultimately save lives.

Read the original post:
What to do if someone ODs - Health and Happiness - Castanet.net

This entry was posted on June 25, 2020 at 6:46 pm and is filed under Preventative Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |