An organization that works with schools across Canada to create CPR and defibrillator training programs is now looking to offer naloxone training programs for high school teachers and students.
The program will teach high school students about opioids, how to recognize a suspected overdose and how to apply nasal naloxone spray.
Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
The Foundation for Advanced Coronary Therapy (ACT) has already completed a pilot project in schools in Ottawa.
“The students responded so positively,” said ACT Executive Director Sandra Clark, who attended the lessons. “Most students think this is important training for them. They think it’s right for them. “
Young Canadians hospitalized faster
Between January and September last year, at least 5,368 Canadians died of “apparent opioid toxicity,” as the Canadian Public Health Agency classifies deaths from opioid-containing substances.
The death toll rose during the pandemic as people experienced increased isolation, stress and fighting, and as street drugs became more harmful.
ACT Foundation Executive Director Sandra Clark said she would offer the program to high schools in Canada following a successful pilot program in Ottawa. (Chris Ensing / CBC)
Young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24 are the fastest growing population in need of hospital care due to a suspected opioid overdose, according to the ACT.
“It happens to their friends or relatives – not intentionally, but accidentally,” said ACT National Medical Director Dr. Michael Austin.
“I think it’s really, really important that this population not only has these tools and skills to be able to react, but also cultural change just to act.
School boards across Canada will be offered a free course that will train teachers, who will then train students in a combination of online and classroom lessons.
ACT provided its training programs for CPR and defibrillators in more than 1,800 high schools in Canada and said the opioid overdose program would be an “improvement.”
The program is partially funded by the Health Canada Substance Use and Addiction Program.
Windsor-Essex School Boards have not joined the program
Clark said the ACT is working with school boards across the country to start offering training programs for teachers. She believes that teachers can start teaching students by the fall.
But the program still faces at least one key hurdle before being proposed by some school boards.
“The ACT Foundation has contacted us, but until we are guided by the provincial government, we have no plans to offer naloxone kits or training to our students,” said a spokesman for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.
The board does not currently have naloxone kits in its schools.
Dr Michael Austin, ACT’s national medical director, said teaching high school students how to use naloxone could help reduce mortality among young Canadians. (Chris Ensing / CBC)
Greater Essex County School Board (GECDSB) staff are receiving training on how to use naloxone, but are not currently involved with the ACT Foundation.
“We have many employees through our health and safety training program who are trained to administer naloxone, which they receive as part of the program offered by our provider, Second Chance CPR,” said a GECDSB spokesman.
“Second Chance does all our training, even in specialized core courses with high skills, where some students receive naloxone training, along with CPR and AED [automated external defibrillator]”
Students would welcome a training program
Keeley Janice is a student at the Walkerville Collegiate in Windsor, Ontario, who believes learning naloxone would be “amazing.”
“Being more aware of the drug crisis – especially opioids because it’s so dangerous – can definitely help the community,” Janice said.
“I think it would be a pretty good idea,” said 11th grader Ivano Richards. “If something happened as an emergency or something like that, if someone had opioids and had an overdose, that would be a really good idea.
Tim Baxter, an addiction counselor at Crossroads: Center for Personal Empowerment in Windsor, Ontario, holds a naloxone kit. (Chris Ensing / CBC)
9th grader Jarod Kagan said he would also welcome training, although he said he thought it was unlikely anyone would overdose at school.
“With the small chance that someone did it, it would be very useful for someone who knows how to treat him with this kit to help him. In addition, if there is a family member who uses drugs and overdoses, they know how to use it. “
A sign of a growing crisis, says the addiction expert
Tim Baxter knows the power of opioids and the benefits of training to use naloxone.
“I had a client come in here who overdosed right on the floor,” said Baxter, a counselor who works with people recovering while sitting in his office at the Crossroads Center for Personal Empowerment in Windsor.
“It was very shocking to see this and find out what was going on.”
Baxter said he used his kit and stabilized the man while contacting 911.
“It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when we think about the fact that we’re now teaching high school students to use a life-saving tool that was made easier by choosing their friends,” he said.
Baxter said he supported schooling, but said some people might be hesitant to embrace the program.
“I hope that there is a huge effort to educate not only young people but also parents about the dangers of opioid overdose.
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