Overdose Alert: Multiple Naloxone Doses Required

Recent reports are showing common occurrences of contaminated drug supply, which can result in increased risk of overdose (January report on the right from NorWest Community Health Centres). There have been many instances where treatment of overdose with Naloxone requires multiple Naloxone doses 3 minutes apart to reverse the effects of opioids. This can be a sign of a contaminated supply. Naloxone works for a short period of time, a person given Naloxone may overdose again without medical support. Always consider an overdose a medical emergency even after the use of Naloxone.

If you are using substances:

• Get your drugs tested

• Do not use alone

• If you are alone, download the Lifeguard app

• Start with a test shot/line

• Carry Nalaxone

The IFNA Public Health team can be contacted for Naloxone kits and training.

Martina Wittig, RN, BScN Public Health Nurse, IFNA Tel: (807) 216-7466 | mwittig@ifna.ca

Rebecca Bridgman, RN, BscN Public Health Nurse, IFNA Tel: (807) 629-3945 | rbridgman@ifna.ca