Drug Overdose Prevention

If you suspect an overdose, CALL 911 immediately.

July 17 - Updates from the Overdose Prevention and Education Network of Niagara (OPENN)
- Positive Living Niagara and the Overdose Prevention and Education Network of Niagara are working towards a summer opening of the Overdose Prevention Site. They continue to hear that there is a pause on further details, given the new government in Ontario.
- Naloxone has been distributed to 17 key agencies who are actively distributing within the critical social and close peer network, and one fire service. Six other agencies are in the process of receiving naloxone. All agencies that have chosen to be a public access points.
- As part of the Niagara EMS systems transformation work, and in line with community needs, Niagara EMS began a test run of innovative response to mental health and addictions needs including performing outreach to those individuals that accessed 911 for opioid overdose or addictions issues. We are cautiously optimistic about the results we are seeing thus far and will provide more information once this pilot is complete.
- The website is updated as data becomes available. Some data elements have not been updated due to the writ period and change in government, but we continue to get preliminary and unofficial data as before.
For more information, see Public Health and Social Services Committee agendas and minutes.

Niagara Statistics

With Canada's recent increase in opioid related morbidity and mortality, Niagara has produced some local statistics. Find out more about opioid overdose and naloxone use in Niagara.

People can overdose on prescription drugs, over the counter drugs and recreational drugs. Symptoms of an overdose may include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Confusion
Hallucinations
Problems with vision
Seizures

Opioids

Opioids are usually prescription pain killers with names like codeine, morphine, OxyContin and Percocet. Another street version of an opioid is heroin.

Fentanyl is a manmade opiate narcotic used mostly for cancer patients in severe pain. Fentanyl is roughly 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.

In Canada, many deaths have been caused by other street drugs being cut with fentanyl. Fentanyl is very dangerous because you can't see it, smell it or taste it. If your drug of choice has been cut with Fentanyl, it can quickly kill you.

An opioid overdose may look and feel like:

Severe sleepiness
Slow heartbeat
Trouble breathing
Slow, shallow breathing
Cold, clammy, bluish skin
Trouble walking or talking
Non-responsiveness to shouting or shaking

Naloxone Kits

Naloxone is an emergency medication that reverses the effects of an overdose from opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, methadone and morphine. Naloxone is not an antidote to an overdose, but it can keep a person alive until emergency services arrive.

For Residents

Naloxone kits are free in Ontario. If you are a person who uses opioids, or are a family member or loved one of someone at risk for an overdose, you can get a kit at a pick-up location.