With safe consumption sites in Ottawa now closed, activists have warned there may be more public use of opioids and other drugs.
Megan Francoeur, a registered nurse with Ottawa Public Health’s addictions and substance use health team, and Paul Blahey, a harm reduction worker at the Ottawa branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, explain how you can recognize an overdose and what you can do to help.
What are the common signs of an overdose?
Common symptoms of opioid overdoses are slow, irregular or stopped breathing, a lack of movement, gurgling or snoring sounds, cold or clammy skin, blue or grey lips and nails, tiny pupils, unresponsiveness, or unconsciousness.
“And it can happen really quickly, not getting oxygen to the brain; you can see damage within minutes,” Francoeur said.
How do I respond to an overdose?
If you do suspect someone is overdosing, there are five steps to follow in order.
- Check your own safety first. When approaching, look for anything that might endanger you, like open needles or other equipment. As you get closer, you can shout and shake the person’s shoulders.
- If you don’t get a response by shaking or shouting at the person, call 9-1-1 to make sure help is on the way.
- Give naloxone (also known as the brand name Narcan). This is a rapid overdose reversal kit that is free in Ontario and available at many pharmacies, community centres, harm-reduction programs and outreach services. Naloxone comes in both injectable and nasal spray forms. The Government of Ontario’s website provides a list of all the places that it’s available, and you can search by location.
- If you happen to have gloves and first aid training, at this point perform 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths.
While you wait for help to arrive, ask yourself if these steps are working. Has there been any improvement after giving naloxone? If it’s been two to three minutes and help still hasn’t arrived, give more naloxone. If you have a second spray or injectable in your kit, use it. - If the person starts breathing at any point, put them into the recovery position, which means onto their side, which supports their head, helps with breathing and reduces the possibility of choking on spit or vomit.
These five steps, as well as images of the recovery position, come inside naloxone kits.
I don’t use drugs. Why should I carry naloxone?
Carrying these kits can be life-saving, even if you don’t use substances and think you might not need them yourself, Francoeur says.
“It’s a great way to take care of the community and others. Stigma is definitely the biggest barrier we see with people who use substances. Reducing that stigma, by all of us playing a part in that community of care and getting naloxone, is very important right now,” she says, adding that carrying naloxone in an accessible place, like in your bag, when you’re out and about, is essential.
What if I see someone overdosing, but I don’t have naloxone?
After shaking and shouting at the person and calling 9-1-1, if they remain unconscious, stay with them until help arrives. When it does, relay the signs of overdose you saw to the emergency responders.
What about other support?
The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) is a confidential, anonymous, virtual safe-consumption service with a website, app, and phone call service.
“Our staff has extensive experience in mental health first aid and psychosis de-escalation. Many of our calls involve supporting folks through challenging responses that can sometimes occur while using drugs,” their website reads.
NORS has two support lines:
- NORS safer consumption hotline: 1-888-688-6677
- NORS peer wellness program line: 1-844-795-6677
The “Harm Reduction Services in Ottawa” section of Ottawa Public Health’s website offers harm reduction services and information, such as its Site Needle and Syringe Program and naloxone training.
