Learning Connections Conference 2024

The drug overdose crisis in small Ontario towns recently hit the news when the mayor of Belleville declared a state of emergency in February 2024 after 17 overdose victims were hospitalized in a 24-hour time period. During the same time, Kingston Public Health reported a 15% increase in overdoses during the previous week, and other small communities in the province reported similar trends. In fact, from 2016 to 2023, over 50,000 people died in Canada from opioid-related causes, reaching record high levels. Although this rise is attributed, in part, to increased levels of opioid cross-contamination in many other street drugs, opioid overdose can happen to anyone. In this seminar, participants will learn about what an opiate overdose is, its prevalence, and myths about who is at risk. Participants will also learn how to recognize signs when someone is experiencing an overdose, what Naloxone is, and how you can get a life-saving kit for free. The problem of drug overdose is expected to grow over the next few years. It is imperative that as many people understand the issue and know what to do. This seminar will be facilitated by Mark Barnes, Pharmacist & Owner of Respect Rx Pharmacies, an engaging educator who passionate about stigma-free approaches to addressing addictions and drug use.