Put overdose drug in hands of users, families

Every year, hundreds of people overdose on drugs in Thunder Bay. The city's drug strategy committee wants to explore handing out Naloxone, a medication that can reverse a potentially fatal overdose.

Superior North Emergency Medical Service has officially recorded more than 230 known drug overdose cases since January.

But Andrew Dillon, an advanced care paramedic, said the real number is likely over 1,200. He regularly sees people who have overdosed on Percocet, Oxycontin or Fentanyl.

Paramedics use Naloxone to save patients lives after severe opiate overdoses.

Patty Hadju, Thunder Bay's drug strategy co-ordinator, said other cities, like Toronto, are providing the medicine to users directly.   

"What we'd like to do is ... look at ... [getting] Naloxone into the hands of the people that are actually using substances and/or their families," she said. 

Dillon said he isn't sure drug users would recognize a severe overdose in time.

"The chances are that ... you're gonna be beyond being able to fix it before you realize it."

He said family members could have Naloxone on hand if they're worried about a loved one — but only under strict conditions.

"There needs to be a regimented education program to go with it."

Both Dillon and Hadju said Thunder Bay doctors have to be part of any plan to distribute Naloxone.