Health and Community Services
November 30, 2016
Responding to Community Health Care Needs
Naloxone Kits being Distributed Province-wide
The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced that 1,200 naloxone kits are being distributed to targeted populations in Newfoundland and Labrador and will be available at 52 sites across the province. These include Safe Works Access Program (needle exchange) satellite sites, youth and adult correctional facilities, and Regional Health Authority Mental Health and Addictions Offices. Partners in the initiative today received a demonstration of how to administer naloxone at the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador office in St. John’s.
“Naloxone kits provide antidotes that give a second chance in a life-threatening situation. The kits and the education on how to use them also provide drug users and their families with valuable information on overdose prevention. I am pleased that distribution to targeted populations is beginning today. I commend all our partners for their efforts in this initiative; the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador, our community agencies, our colleagues in Justice and Public Safety and the four regional health authorities.”
- The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services
The initiative increases access to naloxone, a safe and effective compound that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. The kits are designed to be easily carried on the person, and contain naloxone, single use syringes, a pair of latex gloves, alcohol swabs, a one-way rescue breathing barrier mask and a step-by-step instruction pamphlet.
“Every day in communities across the province, people in vulnerable circumstances are at risk of life-threatening situations because of opioid use. Putting kits in their hands is offering them a life line – not only because of the naloxone, but because with the kits comes education and the beginning of an important dialogue in our communities.”
- Gerard Yetman, Executive Director, AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador
In August, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador provided $180,000 to the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador and the four regional health authorities to establish a province-wide take-home naloxone program. Distribution of the naloxone kits begins today and all sites should have them by mid-December.
The naloxone take-home kit program is part of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Opioid Action Plan which also includes:
- Development of a safe prescribing course in partnership with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador and Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine;
- New regulatory standards from the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board requiring all pharmacies to be connected to the Provincial Pharmacy Network;
- Development of a province-wide Prescription Monitoring Program;
- Improving access to effective treatment options including suboxone as an alternative to methadone; and
- Developing a provincial public awareness and education program on opioids.
QUICK FACTS
- 1,200 naloxone kits are now being distributed to targeted populations through the Provincial Government’s naloxone take-home kit program.
- Kits will soon be available at Safe Works Access Program (needle exchange) satellite sites, youth and adult correctional facilities, and regional Mental Health and Addictions Offices.
- The initiative increases access to naloxone, a safe and effective compound that reverses the effects of opioid overdose.
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Media contact:
|
Emily Timmins Media Relations Manager Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-6986, 709-693-1292 emilytimmins@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Naloxone Kit Distribution Sites
Naloxone is a safe and highly-effective chemical compound that temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdose, including respiratory depression, sedation and hypotension. Naloxone can save lives in opioid overdose situations.
Naloxone should be administered within minutes of an overdose, temporarily halting any respiratory distress and helping to restore normal breathing within two to three minutes of administration. This provides valuable time for emergency response and proper medical care.
Naloxone kits can be obtained at the following sites:
| LABRADOR-GRENFELL | ||
| Community | Location and Telephone | Time |
|---|---|---|
| St. Anthony | Mental Health and Addictions Curtis Memorial Hospital 178-200 West Street 709-454-0262 or 454 -0554 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Hopedale | Mental Health and Addictions NG DHSD Building 709-933-3376 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Happy Valley-Goose Bay | Mental Health and Addictions
Labrador Health Centre 709-897-2252 or 897-2302 or 897-2355 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Labrador City | Mental Health and Addictions
Labrador West Health Centre 1700 Nichols-Adam Highway 709-285-8307 or 285-8311 or 285-8306 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Makkovik | Mental Health and Addictions
Makkovik Clinic 709-923-2207 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Nain | Mental Health and Addictions Nain Clinic NG DHSD Building 709-922-2184 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Natuashish | Mental Health and Addictions
Natuashish Clinic 709-478-8834 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Port Hope Simpson | Mental Health and Addictions Port Hope Simpson Clinic 709-960-0234 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| WESTERN | ||
| Community | Location and Telephone | Time |
| Deer Lake | Mental Health and Addictions 20 Farm Road 709-635-7830 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Corner Brook | Mental Health and Addictions 35 Boones Road 709-634-4506 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Corner Brook | SWAP 98 Broadway 709-634-7927 | 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Walk-in |
| Corner Brook | Fast Track Clinic Western Memorial Regional Health Centre 709-637-5000 ext. 6742 | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday Walk in or by appointment |
| Stephenville | Mental Health and Addictions 127 Montana Drive 709-643-8740 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Burgeo | Mental Health and Addictions 709-886-1550 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Port aux Basques | Mental Health and Addictions 3 - 9 Barhaven Drive 709-695-6250 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Port Saunders | Mental Health and Addictions 709-861-9127 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Port Saunders | Emergency Department Rufus Guinchard Health Centre 709-861-3139 | |
| Norris Point | Mental Health and Addictions 709-458-2381 ext. 260 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| CENTRAL | ||
| Community | Location and Telephone | Time |
| Grand Falls-Windsor | Mental Health and Addictions 36 Queensway 709-489-4389 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Gander | Mental Health and Addictions James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre 125 Trans-Canada Highway 709-256-5438 or 651-6255 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday |
| St. Alban’s | Central Health 709-538-3624 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Baie Verte | Baie Verte Peninsula Health Care Centre 1 Columbus Drive 709-532-5219 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Badger’s Quay | Dr. Y.K. Jeon Kittiwake Health Centre 709-536-1135 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Springdale | Mental Health and Addictions College Building, Green Bay Health Centre 83 Little Bay Road 709-673-4314 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Lewisporte | Community Health Centre 394-412 Main Street 709-535-3082 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Centreville | Public Health Nurse Community Health Centre 709-678-2574 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday |
| Twillingate | Public Health Nurse Notre Dame Bay Health Centre Hospital Lane 709-884-5426 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday Walk in or by appointment |
| Buchans | Public Health Nurse A.M. Guy Memorial Health Centre 709-672-3343 | |
| Fogo | Public Health Nurse Fogo Island Health Centre 9 Centre Island Road North 709-226-2200 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| EASTERN | ||
| Community | Location and Telephone | Time |
| Marystown | Eastern Health Community Services 10 - 12 Harris Drive Business Park 709-279-7955 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Clarenville | Mental Health and Addictions 5 Coish Place 709-466-5727 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Bonavista | Mental Health and Addictions Bonavista Peninsula Health Care Complex 20 - 24 Hospital Road 709-468-5317 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Harbour Grace | Mental Health and Addictions Taylor Building Harbour Grace Regional Centre 33 Cathedral Street 709-945-6591 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Bay Roberts | Mental Health and Addictions Dawe Building Bay Roberts Regional Centre 11-17 Bareneed Road 709-786-5219 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment |
| Carbonear | U Turn Centre 46C Powell Drive 709-595-3223 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday to Sunday By appointment |
| Witless Bay | Witless Bay Health and Community Services Centre 294 Southern Shore Highway 709-334-3944 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday Walk-in accepted; prefer call in advance |
| St. John’s Pouch Cove | Mobile Crisis Response Team, St. John’s | 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. |
| Torbay Holyrood | 296 Waterford Bridge Road 709-777-3210 or 764-4411 | Monday to Sunday
By appointment |
| St. John’s | SWAP 47 Janeway Place 709-579-8656 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday By appointment or walk in |
| St. John’s | Choices for Youth 12-16 Carter's Hill Place 709-754-3047 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wednesday Walk in or by appointment |
| St. John’s | Street Reach 68 Queen's Road 709-743-2536 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Thursday |
| St. John’s | Thrive 108 Lemarchant Road 709-743-2536 or 754-0536 ext. 204 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday |
| St. John’s | Mental Health and Addictions 30 Ropewalk Lane 709-752-4393 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday Walk in or by appointment |
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