What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is an opioid medication often used post-surgery to manage pain. Illicit street drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, are often laced with fentanyl, making these drugs far more addictive, dangerous, and deadly.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a medication that can successfully reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It has been a useful tool in fighting this crisis. The British Columbia Government has provided Take Home Naloxone Programs and you may be able to purchase a kit at your local pharmacy; though, free kits have been made available to people at risk of an overdose. More information on Naloxone kits and where training may be provided are at the links below:
Signs of an Overdose
- Slow or absent breathing
- Blue nails/lips
- Unresponsive/person is not moving
- Gurgling/snoring sounds
- Pupils are very small
- Cold/Clammy Skin
Responding to Overdose
Call 911 immediately
(Credit to Toward the Heart for above photograph)
Most people are at a loss as to where to start looking for help for themselves or for a loved one. Below are just a few of the resources available to the public.
Resource from DrugRehab.com
The Drug Rehab webpage provides information and answers to people fighting addiction and substance abuse.
Youth (Ages 12-24) take a look at the Vancouver Coastal Health page, link below or contact VCH by telephone 1-866-658-1221. They offer information on how to get your child into detox, what help is available to you and where to start.
The Canadian Mental Health Association provides many resources on their webpage in regards to mental disorders. “People use alcohol and other drugs for many different reasons, and how drugs and alcohol impact someone’s life depend on many different factors.”
The provincial government has created a webpage that contains useful information. Facts about fentanyl, overdose awareness stories, information for parents, naloxone kits and lastly what the province is doing to respond to the crisis. Read more at the link below.
Drug Free Kids Canada
This website offers useful information on other illicit drugs that have been circulating throughout the years including alcohol. Drug Free Kids also offers resources on identifying drug use in children, building your support group and parenting advice as it relates to addiction in your children. Along with providing resources to parents, loved ones, Drug Free Kids also offers education, they have compiled research in hopes to better educate the public. Read more at the link below.