Praise for province’s plan to tackle opioid overdoses: “These aren’t just numbers, these are people”

Nearly eight thousand trips to the emergency department, and over one thousand fatalities.

Those are the latest numbers from our provincial government regarding the opioid crisis in 2017.

This new data comes with a pledge – as more than $222-million will go towards tackling the drug epidemic across Ontario over the next three years.

The money will help implement new measures like increasing supports and services, and offering free naloxone nasal spray at provincial pharmacies.

Rob Crossan is Deputy Chief of Paramedic Services in the Region of Waterloo, and says this announcement is outstanding.

“I actually assumed that most pharmacies stocked and dispensed naloxone, but it turns out – just a little over a quarter of them do right now, and that’s not good. Right now, pharmacies only dispense the injectable – which means whoever is going to give this, has to have that knowledge and training – so this nasal spray is much easier.”

Crossan says the nasal spray isn’t as effective as regular naloxone though – as any injected medications act quicker.

“So as paramedics, we’ll always give injectable naloxone. The dose you’re giving with the nasal spray is double the dose though – so it’s 4 mg, and it takes about 30 seconds to a minute to absorb and start to take effect.”

Whether it’s the nasal spray or injectable naloxone – you still need to be calling 911 too.

“When we arrive at the scene, regardless if naloxone has been administered, we still talk to the patients and try to get them to come with us. That’s because we don’t want them to re-overdose, and we want to give them access to supports they may need. That’s really what’s gonna save lives – getting treatment to those who need and want it.”

Crossan says as great as these measures are – we need to continue to ramp up our community efforts, and offer more supports and services.

“There’s many pillars in this strategy – and harm reduction is just one, like naloxone and safe injection sites. The treatment pillar is absolutely key though when it comes to keeping people alive, getting treatment, and eventually putting the opioid issue in the rear-view mirror,” explains Crossan. “Harm reduction is not enabling – it’s simply reducing the harm until we can transition away from this altogether.”

He says we need to continue to have these conversations, as the opioid crisis isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“There’s a bit of a lag with coroner data, but we believe we had 71 opioid-related deaths in Waterloo Region in 2017. That’s an enormous number .. that’s five a month. For contrast – we had 12 traffic fatalities. So it’s not even in the same ballpark, and these opioid deaths are somebody’s daughter, son, husband, wife, mother or father .. these are not just numbers, these are people.”

Crossan adds if you don’t know someone that’s been impacted by the opioid crisis yet, consider yourself lucky.

“The big hot button topic lately is the overdose prevention sites and safe injection sites – but that’s not the end, or the finish line. That’s one small small piece in this strategy to get to the province’s target. So if you don’t want the sites – that’s fine, but it’s just one small piece in the intricate deadly puzzle.”

Regardless of how you feel about safe injection sites or addiction – Crossan says this is our community, and this is about saving lives.

“If you can’t see an opiate user as someone that could be your friend or a human being, and you’re strictly a ‘dollars and cents’ person … think of it this way – if we can prevent one Hepatitis C infection with a safe needle program, we save our healthcare system hundreds of thousands of dollars. So if you can’t relate on a personal level, you should be able to relate to how harm reduction can save taxpayer money as well.”

Last year across Ontario, the amount of opioid-related deaths almost doubled – with 1,053, up from 694 in 2016. In Waterloo Region, there were 580 reported opioid-related overdoses, resulting in 71 deaths.