Harm reduction at forefront of naloxone training

Elmwood

A little training can go along way — it could even save someone’s life.

The Elmwood Community Resource Centre has partnered with Street Connections to put on a harm-reduction and naloxone training session on Monday, Feb. 23.

The training session, aimed at community members looking to help prevent overdoses and save lives, will provide information on what naloxone is and how it can be administered, as well as what opioids are and how they work inside the body, what an overdose looks like, support information and resources, and more. Those who complete the training will receive a free naloxone kit to take home.

“For some people, there’s a lot of stigma around what opioid use even is,” said Anne Oserin-Pinnock, director of clinical programs and initiatives for Elmwood Community Resource Centre. “There is a lot of misinformation about what occurs during this training and what the purpose is.”

The training session can be attended by anyone — not only those who know someone who uses opioids. Many community members want to be prepared to help others.

“Naloxone training is something we’ve been offering for quite some time,” Oserin-Pinnock said. “We absolutely need it in this city. In 2024, there were over 400 deaths in our city. Since 2016 when they started taking stats on opioid-related deaths, there were 88 deaths, now it’s over 400. It’s high.”

Oserin-Pinnock noted that, in a medical context, opioids are an important part of treatment for a wide variety of health- and pain-related issues. Others may use them socially or to self-medicate for a wide variety of issues, including as a way to cope with mental health and trauma. Regardless, the body develops a tolerance over time, which can be dangerous to any user.

“When it comes to naloxone training, it teaches people what is actually happening in the body,” she said. “What are some of the symptoms of opioid overdose or poisoning that you might see. What are things you can do to help support someone through that.”

Administering naloxone, a medication which temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, generally provides a window of opportunity, between 30 and 90 minutes, for emergency personnel to arrive and attend to the person who overdosed.

“It allows you to help someone and maybe save their life,” Oserin-Pinnock said. “It should be enough time for emergency personnel to attend to them. But in the meantime, that person you are with is breathing and they’re alive.”

Oserin-Pinnock said the training is a part of the ECRC’s substance-use awareness program, which puts on a number of workshops and training sessions throughout the year, as well as group and one-on-one counselling.

“Nobody wants to be addicted,” she said. “No one wants to be in a space where they’re dependent on a drug or this medication that they can’t control the use of.”

The ECRC’s free harm-reduction and naloxone training session on Feb. 23 runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at 545 Watt St. Those who wish to attend should register by Feb. 20. Along with a free naloxone kit, snacks and refreshments, as well as bus tickets, will also be available. Child-minding is also available by request.

“We want to make it as barrier-free for folks who are attending,” Oserin-Pinnock said. “Our substance-use awareness folks are also there and more than happy to answer questions about our programs, and can maybe refer folks to further training or other services and supports.”

Email program@elmwoodcrc.ca or call 204-982-1720 ext. 212 for more information or to register for the training.