Pubdate: Thu, 02 Mar 2017
Source: Northumberland Today (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/letters
Website: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5003
Author: Valerie MacDonald
Page: A3

HEALTH BOARD HEARS OF HARM-REDUCTION STRATEGY

PORT HOPE - Naloxone, administered as a nasal spray or by needle, is
being distributed to stakeholders in the community (including
emergency responder), to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid
overdose, says Peterborough AIDS Resource Network prevention and
education co-ordinator, Chris Jardin -a membert of the Harm Reduction
Programming Committee of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District
Health Unit.

But Jardin says it should be spread more widely.

Key training is taking place among the key stakeholders of the
communities in the tri-county area of the health unit, Hardin said,
and the Port Hope-based health unit itself will become a distributing
site for Naloxone.

"If you or anyone you know is using opioid drugs they should have
Naloxone," Jardin also stressed at a recent health unit board meeting
presentation.

Of the three areas the health unit covers, Haliburton County has the
third-highest rate of opioid deaths in Ontario, board members were
told. Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County statistics were
significantly less, but any death is one too many.

"A huge part of this program is education," Jardin
said.

Other harm-reduction program elements include the Fentanyl Patch 4
program (which requires those prescribed the pain reliever to return
used patches before getting new ones at pharmacies) and safe (sterile)
needle exchanges.

The latter will be established soon at the health unit's three offices
including Port Hope.

"We will be offering needle-exchange services in Brighton and
Campbellford during sexual-health clinics," the program's presentation
continued.

The board heard that the program provides a respectful, nonjudgmental
approach to reducing harms associated with behaviours that meet people
where they are. It is not about "fixing" people, but listening and
building a therapeutic relationship.

The drug strategy involves many community members and the presentation
listed the four pillars of the community effort as prevention,
treatment, harm reduction and enforcement.

Having a consistent approach across the community with improved
communication will enable a better response to evolving drug trends
and "ultimately reduce harms associated with drugs," it concluded.
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MAP posted-by: Matt