Understanding naloxone: who needs it?
Posted Feb 23, 2017 05:27:09 PM.
Last Updated Feb 23, 2017 05:31:03 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — What is naloxone and who needs it?
Police, Ottawa Public Health and even some parents have spoken out warning about the dangers of counterfeit prescription pills.
It’s been nearly eight months since the Ontario Ministry of Health began distributing naloxone kits to pharmacies, which can give them out to people free-of-charge, without a prescription.
Pharmacist Mark Barnes, who also owns Respect RX in Vanier said his pharmacy has given out more than 700 kits in that time – one fifth the provincial volume.
The drug comes similar to an Epipen, except people have to load the syringe themselves.
It’s then injected into the person’s arm or leg.
Barnes said it takes about 10-20 minutes to show someone how to administer the drug, but believes everyone should know how.
“The use of opioids in Ontario is overwhelming and it seems to be the new way to party among youth. I think it’s, really, our social responsibility,” said Barnes.
Part of the training also includes recognizing the signs of an overdose.
Naloxone blocks the effect of opioids on the brain and starts working within minutes, but sometimes requires additional doses.
Anyone can obtain a kit from more than 80 pharmacies across Ottawa or through Ottawa Public Health.
Chloe Kotval, 14, died after an apparent drug overdose.
According to a statement from Chloe’s family, her mother had found her unresponsive in her bedroom on Sunday, February 12.
The statement said she had taken “a pharmaceutical drug of unknown origin.”
She died two days later on Valentine’s Day.
