Heath unit issues suspected opioid overdose alert

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By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Northumberland County

A notable increase in suspected opioid drug poisonings in Northumberland County has spurred the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit to issue an alert.

This early-warning and surveillance measure automatically flags such increases, triggering enhanced outreach efforts and distribution of naloxone kids and harm-reduction supplies from first responders and community partners.

Naloxone is an emergency medicine that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose until that person can get to a hospital for treatment. It should be used in all suspected drug overdoses, since unregulated drug supply may be contaminated with other substances. These free kits are available at local pharmacies and health unit offices.

Signs of an opioid overdose include very small pupils, slow or no breathing, cold and clammy skin, blue or purple fingernails or lips, and snoring or gurgling sounds. They may appear to be under heavy sedation and be difficult to wake up.

In such cases, the health unit urges intervention. Call 911, administer naloxone, and start rescue breathing or chest compressions.

The Good Samaritan Act protects anyone trying to help in an emergency from possible legal repercussions. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act also helps protect people at the scene of an overdose from being charged with using or possessing drugs for personal use.

The health unit recommends such harm-reduction measures as keeping multiple naloxone kits on hand, testing a small amount of a drug before use, use new supplies and access needle disposal bins afterwards. When using, employ the buddy system and call a friend (or the National Overdose Response Service for virtual safe consumption at 1-888-668-NORS.

For weekly reports on opioid overdose within the health unit region, check the Opioid Overdose Report on the health unit website.