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As fentanyl overdoses rise, more life-saving kits needed in province

Plans are afoot to determine how to expand access to opioid overdose-reversing naloxone kits, according to the AIDS Committee executive director.

AIDS committee says more users looking for drugs on the street as fewer prescriptions written

Volunteers with the Safe Works Access Program assemble take-home naloxone kits Tuesday. (Sherry Vivian/CBC)

Plans are afoot to determine how to expand access to kits that could save lives in the event of another opioid overdose in Newfoundland and Labrador.

A working group on the antidote naloxone met for the first time at Confederation Building in St. John's Tuesday afternoon, bringing together drug awareness groups, pharmacy leaders, health officials and others.

Volunteers have stuffed naloxone kits — which cost $14 each — to be sent to 89 sites across the province. But the advisory group is looking at ways to add more.

Gerard Yetman, executive director of the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland & Labrador, says there are plans to extend naloxone access. (Sherry Vivian/CBC)

"There are a lot of gaps. We need to look at community services, such as shelters, housing for youth, our school system. Those are some of the ones that are quite blatant," said Gerard Yetman, executive director of the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

He also said it would be a good idea for firefighters to be equipped with kits and training. 

"The fact is fentanyl is here. We have had 18 overdoses, which is very high for a province with our population and likewise, we don't see this going away," Yetman said.

"We know the prescription of opioids has been decreasing and users have been going to the street for their drugs and we know fentanyl is on our streets."

Calls to 811

Yetman said a provincial awareness education program will be launched in two weeks.

Eastern Health said two of the 18 people who overdosed died. Niki Chapman, a mother of three children, was one of the people killed by a fatal injection of fentanyl-laced heroin. 

Currently, those needing naloxone kits can call the province's 811 heathcare line.

The Department of Health and Community Service said there have been 25 calls to the heathline inquiring about where to get a naloxone kit.

That's in addition to153 take home kits that were given out by community partners.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ariana Kelland

Investigative reporter

Ariana Kelland is a reporter with the CBC Newfoundland and Labrador bureau in St. John's. She is working as a member of CBC's Atlantic Investigative Unit. Email: ariana.kelland@cbc.ca