New toolkit helps in the fight against opioid overdoses

Opioid overdoses and life-saving naloxone are frightening and serious subjects. But a new easy-to-understand resource can help organizations and the average person identify the signs of an opioid-overdose and how to deliver potentially life-saving naloxone.

Reducing Harms: Recognizing and Responding to Opioid Overdoses in Your Organization is particularly useful for community groups who work with at-risk populations. The resource is also useful for the average person who wants to learn more about how to use naloxone during an opioid-related emergency at home, at work or at play.

This toolkit was created by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario Division and was developed with support and advice from mental health care providers including CMHA Waterloo Wellington, as well as people with lived experience. It is even more effective when it accompanies hands-on training provided from pharmacies or public health units that distribute naloxone.

“You don’t need to be a clinician to understand this resource. It’s created to give regular people and organizations basic information about using naloxone and how to respond to opioid overdoses,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO of CMHA Ontario. “Given the impact of fatal overdoses we believe naloxone should be as widely available as possible, and this toolkit will help.”

The toolkit provides:

• An overview of the current situation in Ontario related to opioids, naloxone, and opioid-related emergencies, including definitions and facts.
• Explanations of symptoms and who may be at-risk of an opioid overdose.
• Information about where to get naloxone and instructions about how to use it.
• Information about caring for an individual after they receive naloxone.
• Information about supporting employees in the aftermath of an opioid emergency.
• Considerations about implementing a naloxone-delivery policy, including myth-busting information about naloxone administration.

For more information, download the resource from the CMHA Ontario website.