Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/Aug. 31, 2021
International Overdose Awareness Day takes place on August 31 of each year with an aim to raise awareness of overdose, reduce stigma associated with drug related deaths, and remember those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to drug overdose. While awareness of the risk and impact of overdose is always important, it is especially relevant as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual Overdose Awareness Symposium Today from 10:30 to 11:30 am
HPEPH is collaborating with community partners to host a virtual Overdose Awareness Symposium to raise overdose awareness and provide resources and support information to the community. Join online from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. today at bit.ly/OverdoseAwarenessDay2021 or by phone by calling 613-209-3054 and use meeting ID: 944 7234 6841 / Passcode: 535590.
While everyone has been impacted by the pandemic, many individuals who experience substance use disorders are at an increased risk during the pandemic, due to closures, isolation, and changes in services and support. There was a 75% increase in the number of opioid-related deaths in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (HPEC) in 2020*, with 16 deaths in 2019 and 28 in 2020. Provincially there was a 60% increase in opioid-related deaths during the same period. Preliminary data for 2021 indicates a rise in opioid-related deaths, with nine (9) deaths in the first four months of 2021.
The impacts of pandemic related isolation, changes in service delivery, and the presence of contaminated drugs in the community, have increased the risk of overdose in HPEC. While some support services have had to modify their service delivery model due to the pandemic, individuals who use drugs are encouraged to take steps to use as safely as possible. Harm reduction supplies continue to be available at HPEPH’s Belleville, Trenton, and Bancroft offices. Consider additional precautions to use as safely as possible during the pandemic. If you must use alone, call the National Overdose Response Service overdose prevention hotline at 1-888-688-6677. The hotline operates 24-hours-a-day and when you call this confidential and judgement free service, the operator will stay on the phone with you while you use drugs, and will call 911 and advise of possible overdose if they do not receive a response after drugs are administered.
Overdose can happen to anyone, including people who use street drugs and people who may use a prescription incorrectly. Substance use disorders can also affect anyone, as addiction and mental health disorders are complex, and are impacted by a verity of factors outside of their control. It is important that people with substance use disorders are treated with the same dignity and respect those experiencing any other health issue.
Community members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the signs of an overdose and know how to respond to an overdose. If you experience a substance use disorder, you are not alone. Visit our mental and emotional health during COVID-19 web page for resources and support options. For more information, visit hpePublicHealth.ca.
*As compared to 2019
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Media Contact:
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
mhyland@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know if someone has overdosed?
Signs of overdose include:
- Being unresponsive or not waking up easily
- Breathing is slow or not present
- Nails and lips are blue
- The body is limp
- The person is choking or throwing up
- The person is making gurgling or snoring sounds, and
- The skin is cold and clammy
What can I do if I think someone has overdosed?
If you suspect someone has overdosed, call 911, give naloxone and stay with the person until help arrives.
What is the Good Samaritan Act?
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides an exemption from charges of possession of a controlled substance, as well as other violations, for individuals who call 911 in response to an overdose, or who are on the scene when emergency help arrives.
Is our community experiencing an increase in overdoses?
Hastings Prince Edward County has seen an increase in hospital attended overdoses in 2020, with 133 in 2019 to 205 in 2020, that’s an average of 11 per month in 2019 and 17 per month in 2020. While the data for 2021 is not complete, a similar trend is occurring with 26 hospital attended overdoses in June 2021.
Previously, the highest number of hospital attended overdoses in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties in a month was in 19 in February 2019. In May 2020, the region experienced 22 hospital attended overdoses. Our hospitals have continued to see 19-22 opioid overdoses per month since April 2021.
What is the purpose of Naloxone kits?
Naloxone kits temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid related overdose, so the individual can receive medical treatment. These kits prevent avoidable deaths and provide individuals with the opportunity to recover. HPEPH recognizes that individuals who are at risk of overdose, and those experiencing substance use disorders are valued members of our community and we are working with community partners to help connect them with the supports that can assist in recovery.
