From the release
Nova Scotia: The state’s public health department is warning of an increase in opioid addiction ahead of the holiday season.
Evidence suggests much of the increase may be due to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine.
Fentanyl can be added to illegal drugs during manufacturing without the customer’s knowledge. This risk of contamination is not limited to opioids, but is high for all types of drugs, including stimulants such as cocaine and MDMA, and benzodiazepines such as Xanax.
“Many people use drugs during the holidays for a variety of reasons, from holiday parties to coping with seasonal stress,” said Emily Percival Patterson, a harm reduction consultant with the Department of Public Health.
“Regardless of the reason or choice for drug use, Nova Scotia’s drug supply has changed. Opioid addiction can happen to anyone, regardless of what they were planning to use.”
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The fentanyl epidemic has led to a significant increase in drug addiction deaths across the United States, including Nova Scotia. So far in 2023, 56 people have died from opioid addiction in Nova Scotia.
“Anyone who uses medications not given to them by a pharmacy should assume there is a possibility of fentanyl contamination,” Percival Patterson said.
“Drugs purchased online, from friends, or from authorized retailers can be deadly. It’s important to keep this in mind and aim to reduce your risk of opioid addiction.”
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Public health authorities are reminding drug users to take steps to reduce the risk of opioid addiction.
- Even if you are not intentionally using opioids, make sure you have access to naloxone, especially if you live in a rural area. Naloxone only works to reverse opioid addiction, but if you don’t know what kind of addiction you are witnessing, there is no harm in administering naloxone. Naloxone can be used to: free It can be purchased from most local pharmacies and other local locations, including needle distribution and disposal organizations. For more information on where to get and use your free naloxone kit, please visit: http://www.nsnaloxone.com/.
- You can test your medication for fentanyl using fentanyl test strips available at the Northern Healthy Connections Society (Northern Zone), an overdose prevention site, or you can purchase them online and have them sent to your home. Consider screening for fentanyl.
- Let your friend know that you have naloxone, where it is stored, and how to use it.
- Do not use alone. People who use alone are unable to seek help if addiction occurs.
Overdose prevention sites help reduce harm by providing facilities and safe, caring spaces for people to use drugs. These sites have the ability to accommodate and provide important medical and social services to people.
- ReFIX Halifax Overdose Prevention Site (2107 Brunswick St., Halifax) 902-209-9370
- PeerSix Overdose Prevention Site (75 Prince St., Sydney) 902-567-1766
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If you are alone, call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) number at 1-888-688-NORS. A 24/7 phone line that anyone in Canada can call before using drugs to help with the challenges that can sometimes arise when using drugs. An operator is standing by and will call for help if you are unresponsive.Learn more about www.nors.ca.
If more than one person is using the service, please use one for each person. Please wait, even if it’s just a few minutes, before the next person uses it.
Do not mix medicines. Mixing different types of drugs, such as opioids, alcohol, methamphetamine, and cocaine, increases the risk of addiction/overdose.
If poisoning occurs, call 911. Understand your rights under the Good Samaritan Act (http://www.nsnaloxone.com/good-samaritan-act.html).
Fentanyl drug addiction is similar to other opioid overdoses, but it can occur much faster and more intensely than a typical opioid overdose. Signs of overdose are:
- Not waking up or having difficulty waking up
- slow and irregular breathing
- slow or no pulse
- Gurgling, gasping, or choking
- pale, gray, cold skin
- blue or gray lips or nails
- vomiting
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Nova Scotia residents can connect with a clinician by calling the Intake Service (toll-free) 1-855-922-1122, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can contact the Health and Addictions Program yourself.Afternoon, Tuesday and Thursday until 8pm
The Intake Service provides triage, screening, and navigation of programs offered through the Nova Scotia Health Authority (and IWK) Mental Health and Addictions Program, including the Recovery Support Center.
Access Wellness Nova Scotia is a free, one-session, supportive counseling service for individuals, couples, or families. Trained counselors can help people deal with stress, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, relationship issues, general mental health concerns, concerns related to alcohol and drug use, loss, and more. We will support you.
Visit AccessWellnessNovaScotia.ca or call 1-833-691-2282 to make an appointment.
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The Peer Support Telephone Service is open to all Nova Scotia residents aged 18 and over who have minor mental health or substance use concerns, or who are feeling alone, isolated, anxious, distressed, or with empathy. Available to people who need someone to talk to who will listen without judgement. Trained peer supporters provide non-emergency social and emotional support, reassurance, encouragement to callers, and information about community services. Call us toll-free at 1-800-307-1686.
The state’s Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone experiencing or concerned about a mental health crisis. Call 1-888-429-8167 (toll free).
The Nova Scotia Department of Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) has free e-mental health and addiction tools available to all Nova Scotia residents. www.MHAhelpns.ca
Visit the Mental Health and Addictions Program website. http://MHAhelpNS.caLearn more about our services, resources, and tools.
Learn more about take-home naloxone here. www.nsnaloxone.ca
