STOUGHTON - Vidya Reddy is an education and research specialist, and Tashia Acoose is an opioid prevention program worker from the AIDS programs for south Saskatchewan, and they came from Regina to Stoughton on April 21 to speak about naloxone.
The event was held at the Stoughton Royal Canadian Legion branch, with around 45 people in attendance.
According to Reddy, in 2019, 119 people overdosed on some form of drugs in Saskatchewan. In 2020 that number jumped to 398 and in 2021 over 420 people overdosed.
Acoose said there is a great deal of stigma involving people who use drugs. Often people say drug users have a choice and she said after the first and second time of use, they do, but after that it is an addiction and no longer is easy to get rid of.
Acoose has heard too often that they could quit if they wanted to. Once addicted, getting off the drugs is not something that happens overnight, she said. Acoose knows this first hand as she was addicted for six years.
She went on to say that people never intend to become addicted, and they never intend to overdose. Mixing drugs is dangerous and could become fatal, she explained.
She said that her friend had stopped using drugs for a week. He then did the same amount as before and it was too much, and he died.
When a person overdoses on opioids, it slows their breathing, their heart rate slows down, lips and nails could turn blue, and the oxygen is depleted from the blood.
Reddy said that if a person is found to have an overdose, the first thing to do is call 911. Try to wake the person, if this fails, follow the instructions from the operator of the 911 centre, but naloxone can be administered. Stay on the line with 911 and answer all their questions and have clear responses.
Naloxone is a non-addictive medication. It will not hurt a person if it is not a drug overdose, said Reddy.
Reddy did some training on how to administer the injection, and the contents of the kit could be seen at the event.
Reddy and Acoose said that drug-related issues are hitting all the towns and cities.
“We need to do our part and be educated so we can help,” said Reddy.
The event was organized by the Stoughton First Responders, Stoughton Tecumseh Fire Department and the community.
