B NEWS FATAL OVERDOSES MAY BE ON THE DECLINE DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Deaths from opioid overdoses in Halton may be on the decline despite an overall increase in the number of overdoses re- gionwide. ' The Halton Public Health Department's asso- ciate medical officer of health Dr. Julie Emili not- ed during a Thursday, Nov. 28 presentation be- fore the Halton Police Board that from January to June 2019, there were a total of 12 opioid-related deaths among Halton resi- dents. If this trend continues to the end of the year, this would be a significant de- ' crease from the 44 opioid- related deaths among Hal- ton residents in 2018. It should be pointed out that the 2019 data only cov- ers January to June, and Halton police reported two fatal suspected overdoses on Nov. 18 alone. ~ Emili said the estimate for 2019 is also subject to the Office of the Chief Cor- oner of Ontario determin- ing whether some suspect- ed opioid overdoses were actually opioid overdoses. "It's hard to know. Is that truly a decrease, or have. we just not gotten all the reports from the coro- ner's office," said Emili. - "I would hope that itis a true decrease and it's re- flective of all. the hard work we are doingin terms of getting the message out of how to 'use safely, of what services in the com- munity are available to help you and then getting naloxone into as many hands as possible through police, fire, pharmacies." While the 'number of overdose fatalities may be going down, the number of opioid overdoses appears to be on the increase. The Halton Region not- ed that between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, there were 189 am- bulance calls for suspect- ed opioid overdoses in Hal- ton, which is up from 116 calls during the same peri- od in 2018. This total in- cludes 15 ambulance.calls for suspected owerdoses during October alone. There were also 167 emergency room visits by Halton residents for a con- firmed opioid overdose be- tween Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 -- up from 147 visits during the same period in 2018. Emili noted that opioid overdoses are on the in- crease provincewide. ~ [t was also pointed out that 224 naloxone kits have been distributed through the Halton Region's Harm Reduction Program in the last 12 months. The Region said 273 nal- oxone Kits were distribut- ed by pharmacies to Hal- ton residents in April 2019 alone. Jennifer Hartman, €O ordinator of Halton Police Corporate tions, said Halton police have worked hard to get overdose prevention mes- saging out to the public. One message calls on those present when some- one has an overdose to not run but call 911, noting that Ontario's Good Samaritan Act protects the caller from prosecution. Other messaging calls on those using drugs not to use alone; to know their tolerance and go slow; and raises awareness that any drug can be contaminated. When asked by board member = Gary Burkett why the messaging fo- cused on safe drug use rather than drug preven- tion, Emili noted that mes- saging calling for drug us- ers to abstain from drugs would not be effective. "Ideally, we want peo- [rm-- ------... Communica-- ii $saunp © Shaan VEO Ae Deaths from opioid overdoses in Halton may be on the decline. ple not to use, but we have to recognize there is a large group of users who will not respond to that message and so we have to meet people where they are at ... Many will turn off as soon as they hear the message is stop using," she said. Hartman said that Hal- ton police will also raise alerts in the event of: - a cluster of overdoses (6-12) - within a 48-hour time period; Torstar file photo «overdoses and/or drug seizures featuring coun- terfeit drugs or contami- nated drugs; and « a cluster of overdoses at a single location (e.g., a school). "Halton police and the Halton Region representa- tives say they are continu- ing to gather data and in- formation to learn how to further reduce the num- ber of deaths from opioid overdose in this communi- ty. "Get $1,000 Visa Gift EIT *Purchase A New Furnace and Get $100 Visa Gift Card For Every $1,000 Spent (Conditions and Restrictions Apply) Call 289-203-3499 For More Info AtlasCa Heat nag = LL. O0HN § og € 10 + Plumbing *Can Not Be Combined With Any Other Offer 6102 'S Jaquadoaq 'Aepsinyy | uoidweyd ueipeues uoyy | S woo 'uo}jeyapisul