Opioid Overdose Prevention

Opioids are a group of drugs that are used to reduce or manage pain. They can be prescribed by doctors to help treat pain by acting on specific nerve cells of the spinal cord and brain.

Opioids affect the part of the brain that controls breathing. Taking opioids in high doses can cause you to stop breathing, leading to unconsciousness and even death.

Common types of opioids include oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl, and codeine.

Illegal drug-related overdoses and deaths are a serious concern in the NWT and across Canada. We know that talking about addictions can be difficult. The stigma around addictions may lead people and their families to feel ashamed and to try and hide their problems. People with addictions or substance abuse problems need support and understanding.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addictions, we can help. See what services are available for you to choose from:

• Getting Help with Addictions
• NWT Facility Based Treatment Options for Addictions

Signs and symptoms of overdose can include the following:

• Breathing will be slow or absent;
• Lips and nails are blue;
• Person is not moving;
• Person is choking;
• Gurgling sounds or snoring;
• Severe sleepiness;
• Pupils are tiny;
• Person can’t be woken up; or
• Skin feels cold and clammy.

If you suspect an overdose call an ambulance or your local health centre. While you are waiting for them to come, follow the SAVE ME protocol (Government of British Columbia):

S

Stimulate. Check if the person is responsive, can you wake them up?

A

Airway. Make sure there is nothing in the mouth blocking the airway, or stopping them from breathing.

V

Ventilate. Help them breathe. Plug the nose, tilt the head back and give one breath every 5 seconds.

E

Evaluate. Do you see any improvement?

M

Muscular injection. Inject one dose (1cc) of naloxone into a muscle.

E

Evaluate and support. Is the person breathing? If they are not awake in 5 minutes, give one more 1cc dose of naloxone.

The Government of Canada has more information on opioids and opioid overdose:

• What are opioids?
• What are the side effects of using opioids?
• What are the risks of opioid abuse?
• How can you help prevent opioid abuse?

• facethefentanyl
• Gone Too Soon – The Dangers of Fentanyl
• Opioids
• Opioid Pain Medications Frequently Asked Questions (Health Canada)
• Opioid-related harms and deaths in Canada (Government of Canada)
• Opioids toolkit (Government of Canada)