RCMP are advising illicit drug users to carry a naloxone kit and know how to use it after one man died and another was taken to hospital from suspected fentanyl overdoses yesterday in a northern Alberta community.
Naloxone is a drug that temporarily reverses effects of an opioid poisoning or overdose. There are over 20 sites in the Mountain View County region that offer free kits.
On Oct. 18, Peace Regional RCMP were called to assist EMS and the Grimshaw Fire Department in Grimshaw regarding a suspected fentanyl overdose, according to an RCMP press release issued last night.
Despite efforts of emergency responders, police said the 29-year-old male resident of Grimshaw was pronounced deceased.
Using information received from the call, Peace Regional RCMP planned to conduct welfare checks on two other individuals.
In the release, the RCMP detachment offered safe practices to follow for anyone using street drugs which include avoid using while alone as well as carrying a naloxone kit and knowing how to use it to respond to a suspected opioid poisoning/overdose.
There are over 2,000 sites in Alberta where anyone can pick up a naloxone kit free of charge. Training is available wherever kits are provided. Kits can be obtained anonymously.
In the Mountain View County region and in Innisfail, local pharmacies as well as Alberta Health Services facilities are part of the Community Based Naloxone Program. They include:
Olds
• Patryk’s No Frills Pharmacy at 100-6509 46th St.
• Olds Community Pharmacy at 5014 53rd St.
• Preferred Rx Pharmacy at 1-4601 50th Ave.
• Prime Pharmacy at 4602 46th St.
• Rexall Pharmacy at 5015 50th Ave.
• Shoppers Drug Mart at 4607 50th Ave.
• Walmart Pharmacy at 400-6900 46th St.
• Addiction and Mental Health at 212-5025 50th St.
• Olds Hospital and Care Centre at 3901 57th Ave.
Sundre
• Pharmasave at 557 Main Ave. W.
• Sundre Community Drug Mart at 403 Main Ave. W
• Sundre Family Pharmacy at 12 200 Main Ave. W
Carstairs
• Carstairs Family Pharmasave at #120B-10th Ave. S
• Carstairs Remedy’s RX Pharmacy at #1-219 10 Ave. S
• Hammond Street Pharmacy at 1115 Hammond St.
• Addiction and Mental Health at 212 6th Ave. NE
Myron Thompson Health Centre at 709 1 St. NE
Didsbury
• Didsbury Family Pharmacy at 1918-20th St.
• Didsbury Value Drug Mart at 1710 20th St.
• Pharmasave at 1918 20th St.
• Universal Health Pharmacy at 106-2034 19th Ave.
• Didsbury District Health Services at 1210 20th Ave.
Innisfail:
• Jackson’s Pharmasave at 5011 49 St.
• Loblaw Pharmacy at 5080 43rd Ave.
• Parkland Pharmacy at 5027 49th St.
• Sandstone Innisfail Pharmacy 4620 50th Ave.
• Sandstone Pharmacies Henday Centre 127-4804 50th St.
• Addiction and Mental Health at 5056 50th St.
• Innisfail Health Care Centre at 5023 42nd St.
Aside from carrying a naloxone kit, Peace Regional RCMP also want to remind the public of other safe practices to follow when using street drugs:
• Ask someone to check on you or use while on the phone with a trusted person able to call for assistance in the event of an overdose.
• Use supervised consumption services (SCS) if possible.
• Always do a test dose to check the potency or strength of the drug.
• Know the signs and symptoms of poisoning/overdose and call 911 for direction and support.
“Peace Regional RCMP would like to remind the public that street drugs are not always what they appear to be. Had it not been for the fast actions of those around and the immediate response by emergency medical personnel and RCMP, the surviving individual may have had a very different outcome,” police said.
The signs of a fentanyl overdose include slow, irregular and shallow breathing, pinpoint pupils, muscle stiffness, seizures and unconsciousness. Higher doses of the antidote naloxone are needed to treat an overdose, though it may not always be effective.
