On September 11, 2024, Justin Steele introduced our guest speakers: Shannon Witham, Regional Harm Reduction Coordinator, Island Health and Jamie Baird, Oceanside Community Action Team to the Rotary Club of Parksville.
Shannon began the presentation with some shocking statistics. There is a public health emergency in BC. People are overdosing on illegal substances in high numbers. We have lost 15,000 people to drug overdose in BC alone and the costs to the healthcare system are tremendous.
Closer to home, there have been 11 people in this area who have died from a toxic drug overdose so far this year. This includes men, women and children who are dying in our community.
And while poverty and lack of housing contributes to visible drug use on the street, 80% of drug overdose victims are men aged 45-59 who are using at home alone. This is a demographic that doesn’t talk about their feelings and are embarrassed to tell others about their drug use. While some may consider their drug use recreational, all it takes is one bad decision.
With the current drug supply being so toxic, exacerbated by a lack of treatment resources, Shannon’s job is to get a clean supply to those who would otherwise be exposed to drugs that are contaminated with toxic fentanyl or carfentanil. Harm reduction should not be politicized – it is a public health iss
In today’s world, there is no way of stopping the toxic drug supply. The black market on the internet means that the drugs are coming from everywhere. We can’t arrest our way out of this massive supply and its multiplicity of sources. The only solution is to try to keep people alive, without judgement. Naloxone is a small part of combatting drug poisonings, but it is what we have for now.
Jamie Baird then provided a demonstration on the use of naloxone. He described the current toxic crisis as an octopus with many legs, including poverty, homelessness and trauma. In response to the question as to why people would risk taking potentially contaminated substances, he said that the description given is that the feeling is “like a warm hug from God”.
Jamie provided a description of the contents of the kit, including the breathing tube, syringes and naloxone. Using an orange, he demonstrated how to administer the naloxone. There are 3 doses in each kit, and these can be administered 3 times if needed. There is a full description of all the steps on how to respond to an opioid poisoning which has been uploaded to DACdb.
Jamie stressed that naloxone is only effective on opioids and there are other toxic drugs that cannot be treated in this way. The person must be unconscious and not breathing in order for naloxone to be effective. An overdose depresses the respiratory system, and you must keep the person breathing until the paramedics arrive in order to prevent brain injury. The implications for our health care system are dire as facilities will be increasingly required for brain injured patients.
These kits can be obtained from any pharmacy. There is an expiry date on the kit, and these can be replaced as needed. There will be demonstrations at the Knox Fall Fair for those who would like to actually practice administering this life-saving drug.
While there is no way to stem the tide of illicit drugs and abstinence simply doesn’t work, it is important to get into the schools to talk about solutions. Programs such as DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) has not had the desired impact as “just say no” doesn’t work. If kids are stigmatized, they hide their drug use and won’t ask for help. We must get people talking.
Jamie and Shannon recommended Moms Stop the Harm, a network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use harms and deaths. They advocate to change failed drug policies and provide peer support to grieving families and those with loved ones who use or have used substances. See www.momsstoptheharm.com
Most of us have no idea that we need to be thinking about this issue until we or someone we know is affected. This was starkly illustrated by comments from members who have been touched by the toxic drug crisis.
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