Back to SearchKingston, February 27, 2017 - A sudden spike in opioid overdose across the nation is prompting local community health partners to be ready to respond in the event of a mass opioid overdose. KFL&A Public Health, Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, with support from the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and Public Health Ontario, are participating in a one-day emergency preparedness exercise.
Several cities throughout Canada and the United States of America have experienced a sudden spike in opioid overdoses. Local community partners are working together to come up with a plan to respond in the event of a local mass opioid overdose incident. “We are taking this pro-active approach in response to the opioid crisis,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Associate Medical Officer of Health. “A community plan is needed to respond to a potential surge in the number of opioid overdoses,” he added.
More than 95 people representing emergency first responders, acute care hospitals, physicians, community health providers, public health agencies, emergency managers, and provincial and federal partners from across the South East LHIN are participating in the one-day emergency preparedness exercise. The event will improve communication and collaboration among community health partners regarding key preparedness and response actions, will determine roles and responsibilities and will identify the resources needed. “We envision that through fulsome discussion and information sharing, a true community plan will come to fruition,” said Dr. Moore.
Dr. Moore noted that locally, there is one opioid overdose death reported in our region, on average, every month. “With the sudden spike in opioid overdose cases throughout Canada, there is no reason to think eastern Ontario will be any different and we need to be ready,” he said.
For more information, contact:
Susanne Orychock, BPR
Communications and Public Relations Specialist
Phone: 613-549-1232, ext. 1236
Toll-Free: 1-800-267-7875
Fax: 613-549-7896
susanne.orychock@kflapublichealth.ca
KFL&A Public Health
221 Portsmouth Avenue
Kingston, Ontario K7M 1V5
www.kflaph.ca
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