Pubdate: Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Reid Southwick
Page: A1

TRIBE MEMBERS BATTLE FENTANYL CRISIS

Roberta Calf Robe can see drug users and dealers from her office 
window on the Blood reserve, a community where at least 16 people 
have died from fentanyl overdoses in about nine months.

Calf Robe, a community service worker in Stand Off, has had to phone 
police after people came to her door complaining that somebody wasn't 
breathing or was lying still in the snow, from drug or alcohol abuse.

Next time, she may be able to save the victim's life.

As part of a major push to respond to a fentanyl crisis that has 
devastated families on the reserve, Calf Robe joined other band 
employees who were trained Wednesday to use an antidote that revives 
overdosing opiate users.

The Blood Tribe became the first reserve in Alberta to dispense 
naloxone to its members, a harm reduction program that top public 
health officials are considering for the entire province.

A needle exchange in Edmonton is the province's only other site that 
hands out the antidote, available in about 60 sites across B. C. and 
in parts of Ontario. The fentanyl problem has rippled across Alberta, 
with more than 100 fatal overdoses last year alone. But abuse has 
become acute on this reserve, where the local emergency room 
sometimes sees three overdoses a day.

"Because we're in such close proximity to the use that's happening in 
our community, having this kit is going to be very useful because we 
would be a hop, skip and a jump to somebody that would be ( 
overdosing)," Calf Robe said. "Our office is closer than the medical 
building and the police station."

The naloxone program is part of the Blood Tribe's broader efforts to 
deal with the effects of a dangerous drug suspected of claiming two 
more victims - Roxanne Blood and Timothy Eagle Speaker - on Friday.

Aside from spreading the word about the drug's potentially lethal 
effects, tribal members are setting up a hotline for users and adding 
addiction treatment beds.

Fentanyl, a painkiller up to 100 times more potent than morphine, can 
cut off oxygen to the heart and brain. Naloxone reverses these 
effects, allowing users to breathe again for another 30 to 40 minutes 
before the antidote wears off. It offers a critical window of time to 
rush victims to hospital where more life-saving care awaits.

Twenty-two health care workers, community service staff, security 
personnel and other band employees learned to jam a needle filled 
with naloxone into a drug user's upper thigh or arm after they stop 
breathing and their lips turn blue.

The employees were part of the first wave of band members who will 
receive a total of 47 kits provided by Health Canada. Local health 
officials also hope to train loved ones of users who are at risk of overdosing.

The kits will be available in schools, recreation centres, community 
agencies and some homes, with staff and family members trained to 
deploy the antidote when needed. Members who patrol the streets at 
night - and can be the first to respond to emergencies - will also 
carry the kits with them.

"We realize our people in our community will continue to take ( 
fentanyl)," said Chief Charles Weaselhead, who believes the antidote 
is "desperately needed" on the reserve.

"Naloxone is going to prevent the possibility of a death and after 
that we may be able to help the individual."

Band officials have been considering setting up a temporary detox 
centre on the reserve, given that there are precious few nearby 
inpatient beds where addicts can get clean.

Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, a family physician at the forefront of the 
reserve's fentanyl response, said a local treatment centre that 
normally handles patients addicted to alcohol and some prescription 
drugs has freed up roughly 18 beds for fentanyl users.

Three patients were admitted Wednesday.

Tailfeathers acknowledged the tribe's naloxone program could attract 
criticism that it will enable users who may feel more comfortable 
taking a drug that could kill them knowing an antidote is available. 
But she said these efforts are necessary to save lives.

"If you were in an emergency situation, would you let the person go 
because they overdosed on drugs or would you save their life because 
you have the ability to save it?"
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom