The South Cariboo Community Planning Council hosted a demonstration on the Take Home Naloxone program — naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses — at their regular meeting on May 18.
The demo was hosted by Lyn Temple, the Interior Health street and health outreach nurse for 100 Mile House and Williams Lake.
In 2016, the province declared a public health emergency because of the sheer number of overdoses the province has seen in recent years. Now, naloxone kits are now being given out for free throughout British Columbia.
The increase in deaths is being attributed to an increase of fentanyl being found in street drugs. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that can cause overdoses
In 2017, in two months alone, 139 drug overdose deaths related to fentanyl were recorded in the province. That is a 90 per cent increase from the same period in 2016. In response to the public health emergency, the province began providing the naloxone kits for free to British Columbians who are at risk of overdosing themselves or those who might witness an overdose.
While Temple says that both regular drug users and those considered “weekend warriors” should practice safe consumption.
“It’s the person who has no sense of themselves being a drug user — they just don’t see themselves at risk at all” that Temple says she is trying hard to reach with safe use practices, like carrying the naloxone kits.
These might be people who find themselves at parties or festivals or who in certain circumstances will take part in drug use, but who don’t often take illicit drugs, she says.
“I’m not saying don’t use — I’m not saying that — but if you are going to use please be as safe as you can and have a kit.”
Kits are available in 100 Mile House at the South Cariboo Health Centre as well as Canadian Mental Health Association.
Kits are free for people who are at risk of overdosing themselves (drug users) or those who might witness an overdose.
A small amount of training comes with the kit, similar to what those at South Cariboo Community Planning Council meeting participated in.
Using a vial containing water, instead of the naloxone, participants drew the water out with a needle and injected it into a paper cup, in place of a thick muscle where the medicine would normally go.
As was pointed out, opioid drug users are often more familiar with needle use than many of the people in the room would be.
Temple also taught the process to identify an opioid overdose: no response from the person, slowed or stopped breathing, blue lips, gurgling and vomiting.
Naloxone kits are also not the be all and end all to fixing an overdose. If they are able, witnesses are also asked to call an ambulance immediately, clear airways, perform rescue breathing (mouth to mouth). While naloxone does reverse an opioid overdose for a period of time, people can be in danger of relapsing.
Temple also encourages anyone who is planning on using to make sure they do it safely: don’t use alone, use a test dose and recognize whether one is at higher risk because of medication or because tolerance might be lower.
The naloxone kits are part of a general policy of harm reduction that Temple operates by.
“Harm reduction is a seat belt. It’s reducing harm, it’s using a proper stroller, it’s using a bike helmet. That’s harm reduction,” she says.
“If you have someone re-using or sharing a needle they’re at a higher risk of disease, HIV, Hepatitis C. Those diseases cost more to the medical system, so let’s avoid that.”
She also notes that research does not indicate that harm reduction supplies like free needles will enable people to do drug use. Instead, it prevents further harm to people.
As part of the harm reduction program, free needles, condoms and other supplies alongside the Take Home Naloxone kits are available at the Health Centre.
No names are recorded when people come to pick them up.
“Nobody is judging. We’re just saying be safe. Do these few things and have a kit.”
Temple is in 100 Mile House once a week and can be reached via phone at 250-305-9645.