Opioid crisis continues to grow locally
Christie Reeve holds a naloxone kit, as part of the educational session she gave to Loyalist professors. Photo By Robert D. Champagne QNet News
BELLEVILLE – The opioid crisis that is currently making national headlines, is continuing to grow locally according to public health unit statistics.
Christie Reeve, from the Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health Unit, spoke to a group of professors at Loyalist College Wednesday on opioid use in the Quinte region. She shared statistics that show that the average number of monthly emergency room visits has increased this year.
The all-time high this year was in February when 18 people were administered to hospital. This is three more people than August 2017 — the previous high — when 15 people were admitted.
Statistics prepared by the Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health Unit showing emergency visits for overdoses. Chart is updated to Sept. 15.
Both the federal and provincial governments have allocated money to fight the opioid crisis.
The province will be receiving $1.9 billion in direct funding from the federal government over five years, as part of a ten-year deal to commit $4.2 billion to expand mental health and addiction services.
A further $102 million, $51.1 million from the federal and $51.2 million from the provincial government, will be dedicated to increase access to treatment for people with substance use disorders in the province.
Part of this funding is the free access to naloxone kits for all residents of Ontario.
Naloxone kits are used to stop an overdose from opioids. Each kit contains two 4mg doses of nasal spray, a pair of rubber gloves, and a CPR mask.
Each kit costs around $150, but the provincial government provides a tool to locate where you can get the kits for free within your community.
At Loyalist College, there are nine naloxone kits currently spread out throughout the campus.
The kits are distributed to the student health centre, the three security offices, residence commons, the student centre and the security management office in the Kente Building.
Residence staff and student residence administrators have all received training in how to detect an overdose and provide naloxone kits as first aid.
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