Naloxone Training for Opioid Poisoning

Fentanyl is the scourge of British Columbia, and New Westminster has lost 35+ people to fentanyl overdose in the last year. In BC, seven people die every day from a such an overdose or poisoning. This program covers a training session by Kristina Selby Brown, the Harm Reduction Program Coordinator for the Purpose Society – a non-profit society that works to help the vulnerable in this city in many ways. It was put on by the District Parent Advisory Council and was organized by Laura Kwong. It took place at the QayQuat Elementary School. The program teaches people everything they need to know if they come across someone who is in an opioid poisoning crisis. Kristina, the program teacher, knows what she is talking about. She has brought many people back from death, personally, and she knows all the 'ins and outs' of helping people in dire straits. There is excellent hands-on instruction with personal instruction for the each participant in administering naloxone...useful information for viewers too. She also provides an overview of what is happening in the streets, the ongoing and escalating problem of opioid use and misuse, the realities of finding help – to be forthright, pretty challenging. Some good news on the harm reduction front – the city has just approved having a site for inhaling opioids, as opposed to administering them by needle. While 80% of users inhale their drugs, this is a huge step forward. Let's hope a site is found soon.