Naloxone and Managing Opioid Overdose

Opioid consumption and overdose have reached record levels in Canada - from 2016 to 2020, over 20000 people died in Canada from opioid-related causes. In 2020, Ontario has seen a very alarming 60% increase in opioid related deaths with the number rising to 2426 lives lost! With 1/3 being from the construction industry. Because this problem is expected to grow over the next few years, Ontario’s Ministry of Health has invested in a publicly funded naloxone program which started in 2016.  Naloxone nasal spray is a medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and it is an excellent addition to any jobsite’s first aid kit. Under my guidance, our company, Respect Rx Pharmacy, has trained over 50,000 people on how to use a naloxone kit and be prepared to manage an opioid overdose.

Opioid overdose can happen to anyone! Not just heroin and fentanyl addicts on the streets but also babies who accidentally ingest a pill or seniors who mismanage their own prescriptions. In addition, with increased levels of opioid cross-contamination in many other street drugs, it is paramount that everyone get trained, get a kit and save a life. 

This hour long presentation talks about the most recent drug use trends scene locally, and how a bystander can properly recognize behaviours that place someone at high risk of a drug overdose and why. Participants will also be introduced to nasal naloxone as an overdose antidote and how to quickly identify an opioid overdose as well as have proper naloxone training and naloxone kit distribution if needed.

Everyone

Mark Barnes, Pharmacist and Owner of Respect Rx Pharmacies (full bio)

Mark, along with his partner pharmacists are very passionate advocates for the respectful approach to substance misuse and mental health treatment. This led them to develop Respect Rx, pharmacies that pride themselves on providing dignified, stigma-free pharmacy services to those with complex mental health and addiction issues. 

Mark is also heavily involved in addiction education. Using his new website NaloxoneCare.com he delivers seminars for various community groups, pharmacy organizations, and other medical professions on this topic.  He is a member of the National Advisory Council on Prescription Drug Misuse through the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and serves on the Overdose Task Force with Ottawa Public Health & Eastern Ontario Heath Unit. Mark also works with the Canadian Pharmacist’s Association on medicinal marijuana and opioid overdose policy development.