With the number of fentanyl-related deaths increasing across the country, Bow Valley PCN staff are among those receiving training to provide education and access to naloxone kits aimed at reducing overdose risks.
According to Alberta Health Services, there were 274 deaths related to fentanyl in 2015. Fentanyl is about 100 times more toxic than morphine, heroin or oxycodone. When prescribed by a doctor and taken as directed, delivered through patches or pills that release the drug slowly, fentanyl is used to treat severe pain when other analgesics have not been effective.
In a number of the deaths, victims had other drugs in their blood as well, including medicine used for animal castration procedures.
Fentanyl is often sold on the street as green beans, beans, green apples, apples, shady eighties, eighties, greenies or fake oxy.
Dr. Dino Smiljic, with Bear Street Family Physicians in Banff, said Alberta Health Services (AHS) approached PCN groups around the province about becoming involved, “and we’ve had several cases in Banff emergency, so it’s concerning to everyone.
“It’s part of a province-wide rollout of the kits to deal with the crisis and EMTs, nurses, pharmacists and others are taking the training.”
The kits contain instructions on how and when to administer the drug, two vials of naloxone, syringes, alcohol swab, latex gloves and a one-way rescue breathing mask.
According to Bow Valley PCN, increases in deaths from the drug reflect a pattern that has been seen across Canada. In the Bow Valley, deaths have been reported in ER departments in both Banff and Canmore. In the Calgary Zone (of which the Bow Valley is part from a reporting point of view) ER visits and calls to Health Link have steadily increased.
Smiljic said the kits are designed to be administered by the lay public, friends and family, which is why they’re available at many pharmacies, PCN outlets and other sources like hospitals. Those with opiate dependency issues should certainly have a kit on hand, he said.
“They are for drug users or family and friends of drug users,” he said. “But it’s important to realize naloxone is not a cure, it’s not a panacea, it saves you some time. Anyone administering a kit should be calling 911 at the same time.
“If there is an overdose, intentional or not, when using naloxone, the effect is immediate, but it’s very short term – it only lasts a few minutes. It doesn’t reverse the opiate effect.
“And it can save lives, or at least reduce damage. And these are wholly preventable deaths, absolutely unnecessary. Hopefully, access to these kits will save lives.
“If you’re an opiate abuser, or, say, a mother who knows her son uses, you should have these kits. It’s a different world these days and young, occasional users are susceptible to an accidental overdose. You don’t need to be shy, you’ll get a kit or prescription when you ask for one, there are no forms to be filled out.”
Registered nurse Donna McKown, who is based at Bear Street Family Physicians, is the first Bow Valley PCN nurse to receive the training. PCN nurses at Canmore Associate Medical Clinic and Ridgeview Medical Centre in Canmore are slated to receive training shortly. As well, PCN has partnered with local pharmacies which also have trained staff to dispense kits.
“Fentanyl can only be taken safely if it’s prescribed by a doctor. It’s essential to follow the directions and take only the recommended dose,” said McKown. “Drugs bought on the street are never safe.”
Although kits are available at the clinic, McKown said her role in spreading the message about the dangers of fentanyl misuse and illicit drugs in general is just as important in combating the problem.
For more on fentanyl and the take-home naloxone program, visit http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/AMH-Naloxone-Take-home.html.
Staff at the following locations have been trained to counsel and distribute the kits and have kits on site – Banff Mineral Springs Emergency Department, Gourlays Pharmacy in Banff and Canmore, IGA Pharmacy in Banff and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canmore.
For more, visit Health Link 811 at https://myhealth.alberta.ca/811, call the Addiction & Mental Health 24 Hour Helpline at 1-866-332-2322, the Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS), 1-800-332-1414, which is a free, confidential, 24/7 service.
