Pubdate: Tue, 13 Dec 2016
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Liz Monteiro
Page: B1

GRAND RIVER HOSPITAL GIVING OUT NALOXONE KITS

KITCHENER - Grand River Hospital is joining local public health,
pharmacies and Sanguen Health Centre in distributing life-saving
naloxone kits to those who might be susceptible to an opioid overdose.

The hospital in conjunction with the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention
Council announced a pilot project this week in which the emergency
department will distribute naloxone to those patients at risk of an
opioid overdose.

Patients can be recreational users or those on prescription opioid
medication.

"We are another piece in the puzzle. It's another venue where people
can receive these kits and we can reach people in need," said Dr.
Rupinder Sahsi, emergency room physician at Grand River Hospital and
St. Mary's General Hospital.

Sahsi said it's common to see a non-fatal overdose at Grand River's
emergency department each day.

"It's been fairly steady with periodic spikes," said
Sahsi.

Once such spike occurred in October when five people overdosed in two
days after taking heroin laced with fentanyl. Waterloo Regional Police
believe it was being sold from a house in the area of Victoria Street
South and Grand Avenue South in Cambridge.

All survived the overdoses with at least one person requiring
naloxone, a drug given to reverse the effects of an overdose.

Police received a 911 call from the Bridges shelter where a couple
overdosed on heroin and fentanyl.

The man might have died if someone at the shelter had not given him
naloxone, police said.

Naloxone counteracts the effects of opioid drugs such as fentanyl,
heroin, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone and
methadone.

Sahsi said the steady numbers of daily opioid overdoses has been
occurring since 2013.

"The volumes are fairly steady," said Sahsi, who regularly responds to
local paramedics asking for permission to administer naloxone on 911
calls.

The hospital has 100 kits that will be given out at the discretion of
the emergency room doctor, said Sahsi.

The hand-held pouched kit includes two doses of naloxone, syringes,
gloves, rescue breathing mask and instructions.

In Waterloo Region, about 700 people are seen in emergency departments
annually because of drug overdoses. In 2015, 26 of those overdoses
were fatal, said Michael Parkinson of the Waterloo Region Crime
Prevention Council.

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario estimates that more than
700 people died from opioid toxicity in Ontario in 2015.

Opioid overdoses are the third leading cause of death in
Ontario.

Sahsi warns that the naloxone kits are not a cure, but rather reverse
the effects for about 30 minutes. It's imperative medical attention is
sought immediately, he said.

"Naloxone kits are another step in reducing the harm of these
substances that are in our community," he said.

The following is a list of locations offering naloxone
kits:

Health Care Centre Pharmacy, Grand River Hospital: 835 King St. W., 
Kitchener: 519-749-4227

Sanguen Health Centre, 29 Young St. E., Waterloo

Region of Waterloo Public Health (dispensing programs are held from
the public health office by appointment or drop in on Fridays from
1-3:30 p.m.): 150 Main St., Kitchener, 99 Regina St., Waterloo

The Pharma Shoppe, 25 Joseph St., Kitchener

Preston Medical Pharmacy, 125 Waterloo St. S., Cambridge

Doon Village Pharmacy, 601 Doon Village Rd., Kitchener

Drug Basics, Unit 560, 1405 Ottawa St. N., Kitchener

Grand Pharmacy, 304 St. Andrews St., Cambridge

Rexall Drugstore, 585 Weber St. N., Waterloo

Town Square Pharmasave, 100 Mill St., New Hamburg

Grand River Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy, 835 King St. W., Kitchener
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MAP posted-by: Matt