41 28 by the Halton harm reduction program 13 by community agencies - - PDF document

Due to a personal loss due to an opiod overdose. I would like to present an initiative for community harm reduction. That would potentially save many lives. The

• piod crisis has reached an all time high nationwide. Many people in the community

,that we know, care and love for are dying from overdoses. At such a rate we should not find acceptable. These are some of the numbers directly from the Haltom region website.

• Thus far 89

calls for suspected opioid overdose between January 1 and April 30, 2019, which is higher than the same period in 2018 (50 calls).

• Many calls occurred within the area of Milton that contains the Maplehurst Correctional Complex and the Vanier

Centre for Women.

• Municipality

Number of calls Burlington 51 Oakville 68 Milton 45 Halton Hills 19 Total 183

Naloxone distribution and use

41

naloxone kits were distributed in April 2019 28 by the Halton harm reduction program 13 by community agencies in Halton

9

administrations of naloxone by a first responder

• ccurred in April 2019

8 by Halton Region Paramedic Services 1 by Halton Regional Police Service 0 by firefighters in Halton 0 by St. John Ambulance in Halton

Opioid-related deaths

40*

Jan-Dec 2018

• pioid-related deaths occurred among Halton residents

between January and December 2018 (the most recent time period for which data are available) Age group 201 4 201 5 201 6 201 7 201 8 Total 0 to 14 15 to 24 2 3 3 7 8 23 25 to 44 5 4 14 20 20 63 45 to 64 4 7 9 12 7 39 65+ 1 1 1 1 4 Total 12 15 26 40 40* 133

Halton compared to Ontario

Rate of emergeny department visits

In 2017, the rate of emergency department visits for confirmed opioid overdose among residents of any age was 30 visits per 100,000 in Halton and 55 visits per 100,000 in Ontario. From 2013 to 2017, the rate of opioid-related ED visits has increased in both Halton and Ontario. From 2013 to 2017, the rate of ED visits for

• pioid overdose has consistently been higher in Ontario compared to Halton.

Data source: Opioid-related morbidity and mortality in Ontario tool, Public Health Ontario.

rate of

• pioid-relat

ed deaths

In 2017, the rate of opioid-related deaths among residents of any age was 7 deaths per 100,000 in Halton and 9 deaths per 100,000 in Ontario. From 2013 to 2017, the rate of opioid-related deaths has increased in both Halton and Ontario. The rate of

• pioid-related deaths has been consistently higher in Ontario compared to Halton

Region over this time period.

In 12 months over 9,000 people lost their lives due to opiods thats at least 563 people per month, 19 people per day. 94% of cases proven accidental, Sourced from canada.ca To remedy this issue I propose that partially and or fully subsidized test kits or a testing facility be provided to users to prevent the outcomes as previously stated meaning less naloxone kits will be needed to be dispensed, less ambulance and or emergency care time will be diverted and, less funerals will occur ultimately leaving the community intact and lifting a burden on the tax payer in time. Id like test kits to be provided to users to ensure safe consumption because naloxone kits, medical intervention and funerals are not needed when an issue can be prevented.

This is a means of having people prevent death up until they reach out for help on their

• wn.

Individual test kits cost one to five dollars commercially. And I for one argue that a human life is worth that much. Do you agree I understand drug use is a mental illness and or disorder that needs to be explored as it is an underlying problem.