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7 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A pril 8,2021 insidehalton.com DENNIS' AUTO SERVICE Owner/Operator DENNIS CIACCIA 905.842.6000 501 SPEERS RD. UNIT #2 (1/2 km east of 4th Line),OAKVILLE rrs TM • Muffler & Exhaust Services • Oil/Lube Change • Auto Collision & Repair • Transmission Service & Repair • Auto Mechanic • Independent Auto Service Serving Oakville For 30/Years spring Maintenance check-up with Oil change & tire rOtatiOn $6995+taxesmost cars • Change oil, filter & lube • Special includes up to 5L Regular Oil • Synthetic Oil $30 extra up to 5 L • Load test battery & service terminals if required • Check cooling system, test coolant strength • Inspect front & rear brakes • Check tune-up belts • Check lights • Check steering • Check exhaust • Inspect all levels • Rotate 4 tires & adjust air pressure • Windshield washer fluid top-up NEW CAR WARRANTY APPROVED. All coupons must be presented at time of arrival. Coupons cannot be combined with any other offer or special. Expires April 30th, 2021 Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:00pm $3695+taxes All coupons must be presented at time of arrival. Expires April 30th, 2021 Most cars includes 5l of regular Oil $30 extra for synthetic Oil up to 5l luBe, Oil & Filter Brakes special NO TAx On Parts & Labour Most Cars All coupons must be presented at the time of arrival. Coupons cannot be combined with any other specials. Expires April 30th, 2021. As the region reels from a surge of suspected overdoses, Crime Stoppers of Halton held a virtual presentation on local opioid use and what can be done to help those struggling with ad- diction. The webinar -- held in part- nership with Halton police and the Canadian Mental Health As- sociation (CMHA) -- took place March 23 and was hosted by Dan- ny Sud, a registered nurse with CMHA Halton specializing in ad- diction and mental health. Sud said that between Janu- ary 2016 and September 2018 there were 10,300 opioid-related deaths in Canada. In Halton last year there were 241 suspected overdoses, 38 of which were fatal. The same day, Sud held his presentation, Halton police took to social media and reported that since the beginning of March they have responded to approxi- mately 23 suspected overdoses, five being fatal. The registered nurse also pointed out that someone who survives an opioid overdose can be left with significant brain inju- ries if not revived quickly enough. "This is, without a doubt, a public health emergency," said Sud. In an effort to help his audi- ence understand opioid addic- tion, Sud discussed some of the reasons people have so much dif- ficulty quitting once hooked. One reason involves the brain's production of dopamine, a chemical messenger that lets someone do things like regulate their emotions, manage stress and feel pleasure and happiness. Sud said that when someone takes an opioid, the pleasure cen- tres of the brain produce two to 10 times more dopamine than nor- mal. "You feel great, you feel very euphoric, very elated," said Sud. The downside, he said, is that after abusing opioids for only a short time the body stops produc- ing dopamine on its own, which leaves the user almost complete- ly dependent on opioids to pro- duce dopamine and keep them from feeling horrible. Worse still, Sud noted, is that after someone stops taking opioids it can take their brain two years to get back to the point where it is sufficiently producing dopamine on its own. Heavy opioid users can also expect to experience withdrawal symptoms, which range from nausea and vomiting to abdomi- nal cramps and muscle aches and pains. Sud said these symptoms start within six to 24 hours of stopping opioid use and peak in intensity on the third day. Withdrawal from opioids is not life-threatening, Sud said. However, there are risks to pregnant women and a risk of suicide for some, particularly if the withdrawal is sudden, un- treated or forced. "The withdrawal is so uncom- fortable the individual may de- cide to die by suicide rather than to go through that process," said Sud. "So, it is so important that indi- viduals that are in the early stag- es of withdrawal really have the right supports around them, so they do not die by suicide or expe- rience a relapse." It was also pointed out that people going through withdrawal are at high risk of overdosing if they use again. Sud said the body rapidly loses the tolerance it has built up once that regular opioid use stops. He said this tolerance drop can start after as little as a few hours and what that means is someone who takes an opioid at the amount they are used to after a couple days of taking nothing may have an accidental overdose. Sud said it is essential when supporting someone who has ab- stained from opioids for a period to advise them to put some mea- sures in place to keep themselves safe if they think they are going to have a relapse. Halton police have said some of these precautions include: not using alone, going slow when us- ing, knowing the signs of an over- dose and carrying naloxone. When it comes to getting off opioids, Sud said substitution therapy via methadone or subox- one is best. He said quitting cold turkey seldom works in his experience. For more information visit https://www.haltonpolice.ca/ en/staying-safe/overdose- awareness.aspx. 'THIS IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY' Opioid use was discussed during a Crime Stoppers of Halton presentation. Metroland file photo DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com NEWS NURSE SHARES FRIGHTENING REALITY OF OPIOD USE DURING CRIME STOPPERS WEBINAR