The City of Montreal is calling on boroughs that have not yet introduced naloxone into their first aid kits to do so. The Press reported Wednesday that employees in several boroughs cannot administer it even if they suspect an opioid overdose. An approach that goes against the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
“In the borough of Ville-Marie, as in several other boroughs, we have introduced naloxone into the kits, and we are already seeing the positive effects,” declared The Press Montreal City Councillor for Ville-Marie Robert Beaudry said the city will hold discussions with boroughs that have not yet done so “to raise awareness and encourage them to follow suit.”
The Press reported Wednesday that employees in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension and LaSalle cannot administer naloxone if they suspect an opioid overdose. Employees – both blue-collar and white-collar – are instead being instructed to call 911.
Although calling emergency services when a person is overdosing is essential, it “may not be enough” to save the life of the person overdosing, estimates the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP).
In Montréal-Nord, Lachine and Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, first aid training offered to employees also does not include the administration of naloxone. However, the Ministry of Health recommends the use of naloxone by first aiders in the workplace and encourages employers to provide the necessary training in this regard, in order to help combat the opioid crisis.
The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, said Wednesday morning on X that “everyone should be able to use naloxone.” His team is also working with the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP) on an awareness campaign for all citizens.
However, several boroughs are training some of their employees in its use: Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Saint-Laurent, Verdun, Saint-Léonard, Ville-Marie, Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Le Sud-Ouest.
Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an overdose of opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, morphine, and codeine. It can be given intranasally, by inserting the spray into a nostril, or by intramuscular injection, through a syringe into the shoulder or thigh. The medication typically lasts for 20 to 90 minutes.
Since 2017, kits containing the antidote have been available free of charge in all pharmacies in Quebec and in certain health establishments and community organizations to anyone aged 14 and over, without a prescription.
Naloxone kits have helped reverse thousands of opioid overdoses across the country, according to the Government of Canada.