Overdose awareness advocates hope to end stigma, humanize victims

Statistics released from the SCS state that from Jan. 1 to Aug. 1, 48 of the confirmed drug toxicity deaths were due to fentanyl, and 32 were due to acetyl fentanyl.

Fentanyl-related drugs have been the most common contributing opioid in confirmed drug toxicity deaths since 2020, SCS said in a statement.

This year’s theme for International Overdose Awareness Day is “Recognizing those people who go unseen”.

For Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka, the Medical Officer of the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA), those who experience an overdose often go unnoticed and unfortunately, so does the family.

“It’s not getting any better and people around us are lost to overdose,” he said, “Others survive, but so far, (there are) permanent injuries with devastating impacts to their families and friends.”

Lyle Karasiuk with Parkland Ambulance based in Prince Albert said there is often a prejudice that comes with overdose and overdose-related deaths, that it only happens to those in marginalized communities.

“Opioids and the ingestion of them to the state of an overdose can happen in any group,” he said. “They can happen in somebody who’s affluent, who works in a good job and has a good family and all those sorts of things. They could happen as somebody who accidentally does that, they can happen in our students heading back to school.”

On Thursday, the Provincial Government recognized International Overdose Awareness Day and all those it affects.

“Overdoses are impacting communities across the province,” Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Tim McLeod said in a media release. “Addictions affect the lives of your friends, your neighbours, your co-workers and members of your own family. You never know who may be struggling, and it’s important to know that help is available.”

To mark the day, the Ministry of Health has launched a new series of advertisements in hopes of reducing the stigma surrounding overdoses and also reminding those who use drugs or who have loved ones who use drugs that resources are available to help.

That project is among many initiatives that were included in the $518 million of funding for mental health and addiction services in the 2023-24 budget.

The provincial government also reminded people that free take-home naloxone kits are available at 326 locations in more than 90 communities in Saskatchewan. That includes 117 pharmacies.

Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, allowing time for medical help to arrive.

“Naloxone will work instantaneously to start someone’s breathing if in fact they have ingested an opioid,” said Karasiuk, who added that the medication can work in as little as 30 seconds. “If you think someone who you find has potentially ingested an opioid, you need to recognize that the emergency exists.”

Karasiuk didn’t have numbers in terms of how many Naloxone kits have been distributed in the city or how many overdose-related calls they’ve had so far this year.

While Ndubka couldn’t comment on overdose numbers for northern communities in NITHA, he did touch on the initiatives they have to educate and prevent overdoses in the future.

This includes training on how to administer Naloxone, harm reduction awareness, and needle exchange services.

“About 11 communities have needle exchange services available,” he said. “Over 70,540 needles have been distributed across the communities.”

Karasiuk added information on Naloxone and helping those with overdoses are available for free through organizations like the Canadian Red Cross and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

The bottom line is, if you’re in need of help, don’t be afraid to reach out.

“There are lots of resources with lots of great organizations right from federal to provincial to regional resources to local groups that can support you,” he said. “If you (or) your loved one are experiencing those situations, there are groups again that can support and to help.”

–With files from 980 CJME

LINKS

Overdose information and prevention from the Government of Saskatchewan

Parkland Ambulance Services

Opioid Harm Reduction from the Canadian Red Cross

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

by paNOW Staff

Overdose awareness advocates hope to end stigma, humanize victims

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