OVERDOSE PREVENTION
PROGRAM
Shawn Woods
Manager, CDC Department
Representing: CDC Department
CDIP Department
• Provincial Narcotic Strategy in 2010
which included harm reduction
programs
• 2012 Oxycontin (Opiate)
discontinued
• March 2012 - MOHLTC created
Expert Working Group on Narcotic
Addictions
BACKGROUND
• Working Group Recommendation to MOHLTC
- increase and sustain the availability of
Naloxone overdose prevention kits and harm
reduction information and materials through
PHU in Ontario.
• Health Units documenting changes in drug
behaviours (NEP)
• Health Units across Ontario reporting 20122013
BACKGROUND
• Accidental overdoses are the 3rd leading
cause of unintentional death in Ontario a
comparable figure to traffic fatalities
• Overdose deaths occur in about 1-3 hours
after injection/ingestion;
• Accidental or intentional;
• Occurs often because of use of different
drugs without familiarity;
• OD occurs in the presence of others,
because users fearful of calling 911;
BACKGROUND
• Overdose Prevention programs piloted
and implemented in Toronto 2011
• Many other communities across Ontario
have since implemented similar programs .
• Other programs also implemented in the
States, Edmonton AB, and BC
• The programs in Ontario were initiated due
to the withdrawal of Oxycontin in 2012,
but they were in process prior to this
NATIONALLY, PROVINCIALLY
• May 2013 Central East Local Health Integration
Network (CELHIN)
• Allocated resources to Pinewood Center and
FOURCAST – for those experiencing opiate
dependency
• One-time funding for Opiate Overdose
Prevention –
• Support Local Harm Reduction
Committees – Durham Region,
Peterborough and HKPR District until
March 2014
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
• Coordinator Kerri Kightley, was hired with the
one time funding
• Overdose Prevention Durham/Four Counties
Region Advisory Committee
• Durham Region’s Coalition,
• Peterborough Drug Strategy,
• 4Counties Harm Reduction Coalition
and
• HKPR’s Needle Exchange Programs
• This group met in September 5th 2013 and
Jan 15th 2014
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Includes two parts –
1. Identify overdose and crucial first
steps
2.Administration of Naloxone – (used to
reverse the effects of opioids)
– kits are provided to peers
OVERDOSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS
GOAL
To engage community partners in the
movement towards implementation of
an overdose prevention program
LOCALLY
February 2014
• Community Presentations (Haliburton, Lindsay,
Port Hope, Cobourg and Campbellford)
• To introduce a region wide overdose prevention
initiative
• Improve knowledge of overdose prevention
strategies
• Engage community stakeholders to become
involved in the program
JANUARY TO MARCH 2014
March 2014 – ongoing
Plan/Implement Level 1 Education/Training for Peers
(PARN)
• Prevention
• Identification
• Myths
• Respond
Overdose Prevention Conference
• Partners from Durham, HKPR and Peterborough
Plan/Implementation of Naloxone Distribution
• Key partners
• Medical directive
• Peer Training on use of Naloxone
LOCAL ODP PROGRAM
Thank you
One death due to overdose is not acceptable – with
the partnerships involved in this program we hope
to have an impact within our communities to
increase awareness ,knowledge, and skills in
preventing overdoses.
Invitation to attend one of our Community
Presentations
INFORM AND INVITE