REGINA — As Regina faces a growing number of overdose calls, advocates with AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan say naloxone training is becoming more important than ever in helping ordinary people save lives.
Thousands of people are trained yearly by AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan (APSS) on administering naloxone, a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
Brandy Maxie said she chose to take a naloxone training course herself in hopes of supporting the Indigenous community.
“A lot of my friends and family have been suffering from overdosing and are uneducated about it. So I just wanted to join to help bring awareness and help whoever you can.”
Maxie said many of her peers aren’t open to receiving naloxone training, describing it as frustrating.
“There's a lot of people who don't really want to take part in any of the information because they're scared of being judged and have lost some family already over this. They feel like I'm judging them.”
Maxie is hopeful receiving this training will educate her peers on its importance.
“I want them to know that it's totally safe and lives can be saved.”
Jay Littleford, education co-ordinator with APSS, said he cannot count the number of lives saved from this training.
“[The more] people that get trained, the more people that have the ability to then save a life.”
Littleford described how compassion, care and empathy for others can go a long way in encouraging people to learn about naloxone and help people who are overdosing.
“If you approach life with that care and compassion for others, we'll have people who are making the choice to save a life, opposed to not wanting to interject for fear of what may come of that.”
Littleford said there is a common misconception that people revived from an overdose will attack the person who administered the medication.
“People are scared to interject or to administer naloxone because they believe someone might attack them or be physical or aggressive. And I've never experienced that myself. And I'm not going to say that's not possible. But as I said, I've saved many lives. I've never ever experienced that.”
As Regina Fire and Protective Services is on track to record its highest number of overdose calls in a year, Littleford said naloxone training is more essential than ever.
“It's very prominent and prevalent in our communities. We have the ability to save lives ourselves so that it could take the onus off the fire department. It could take the onus off emergency services. We can do something ourselves.”
Littleford believes more educational institutions should make naloxone training mandatory in their curriculum.
“I believe high schools should implement this in every high school curriculum, in health or whatever class it might be. I believe it should be in every school, whether it's a college or a university.”
People interested in naloxone training can receive a free course and kit from APSS.
Littleford said anyone who sees someone overdosing should call 911.
If people on scene have naloxone training, Littleford emphasized the importance of staying with the person until emergency crews arrive.
“It's always important to stay with a person because opioids are attached to our pain receptors in the brain. Naloxone is an opiate antagonist. So it reverses the effects of opiates. It'll kick the opiate off the pain receptor and take its place, but it only lasts for 20 to 30 minutes.”
