Drug Overdose Prevention

If you suspect an overdose, CALL 911 immediately.

June 1 - 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
- Naloxone has been distributed to 14 key agencies who are actively distributing within the critical social and close peer network, and one fire service. Five other agencies are in the process of receiving naloxone. Locations where you can get naloxone kits.
- Niagara Health has begun to order naloxone in their addiction programs as all hospital programs are now able to have it available for distribution
- The Communication subgroup of Overdose Prevention and Education Network of Niagara launched its campaign May 7. Community partners across Niagara are participating and metrics will be assessed over time.
- Coroner's data has been released for the last two months of 2017. There were 76 total opioid-related deaths in Niagara last year (almost double 2016). The hope is that coroner's data will now only be five months behind, instead of 18 months as before. However, this information corroborated with local "on the ground" existing knowledge at that time.
- Niagara Region Public Health staff continue to work with the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board regarding naloxone and opioids. This includes supporting secondary schools with naloxone training, which has been completed.
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.