(Calgary) More than 30 people have survived an overdose thanks to a national service providing emergency phone support to people who use drugs.
According to data from the National Overdose Intervention Service (SNIS), the organization’s volunteers responded from December 2020 to October 2021 to 33 calls from a person whose life was in danger.
Follow-up calls confirmed that the effects of these overdoses had been reversed.
The SNIS allows people who have consumed a potentially fatal drug to call for volunteers. They call them back regularly and can alert 911 in the event of major problems.
The caller can also provide the name of someone with naloxone who is staying near their home in advance, which can help save a life in a remote area where emergency response time can be long.
“If these people consume without any support, they could lose their lives,” says Dr.r Monty Ghosh, an Albertan physician.
The Dr Ghosh launched the service in conjunction with Brave Technology Co-op and Grenfell Ministries in December 2020. So far, no customers have died using the hotline, SNIS argues.
“There are so many deaths in the country and there are so many ‘appalling statistics’ that it is a relief to see that one person has used our service and is continuing to live,” said Oona Krieg of Brave Technology. Co-op.
The company, based in British Columbia and Ohio, uses technological means to protect drug users.
Federal government data shows 3,500 people died of opioid overdose in the first six months of 2021. 2021 is expected to be the deadliest in this area since the data was compiled. , i.e. 2016.
Mme Krieg believes success hinges on making a connection at a time when people’s isolation has grown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We know that with drug use comes a disconnect with the community,” adds Kim Ritchie, executive director of Grenfell Ministries, an organization in Hamilton that aims to provide support to marginalized communities.
This emergency line is one way to reduce the number of overdoses, says Mr.me Krieg.
The SNIS relies on more than 100 volunteers and employees. He was around 20 when he started out. The majority of them have lived, still use drugs or have worked on the front line.
Being able to rely on peers is crucial to building trust with customers. This is the reason why many have used the service several times.
“We are not trying to cure them,” explains Mme Ritchie. All I can say as a former addict and social worker is that these people love to use and they are not going to stop anytime soon. Punishing them, ostracizing them or locking them up, it never worked. ”
In its first year of existence, the service received over 1,500 calls from people requesting supervision. Some 600 people called for support for mental health issues.
Most of the calls originated from urban centers in Ontario and Quebec.
The SNIS number is 1-888-688-NORS (6677).