The Global Shapers Ottawa Hub organized a two-part virtual event to address the opioid crisis issue. The first part was a virtual Naloxone training session, and the second part was a panel discussion on the opioid crisis.

The Naloxone training session was led by Mark Barnes, a pharmacist and owner of Respect Rx Pharmacies. The event taught participants how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer a life-saving drug called Narcan. Free naloxone kits were provided to all participants who requested it via postal mail, after the completion of the training.

The panel discussion featured three individuals who were either healthcare professionals or advocates. The speakers were Dr. Catherine Gray, a physician whose clinical expertise spans the full spectrum of addiction medicine including harm reduction, with a special interest in the federally supported Safer Supply program; Charlotte Smith, co-founder of LivEx Alliance, a grassroots organization of peers with lived experience of youth homelessness and allies; and Dr. Sumaira Hasan, a pharmacist who works with the acute psychiatry population and is an advocate for mental health amongst her colleagues and peers.

The panel addressed the stigma surrounding drug use, increased awareness of harm reduction programs and provided insight for advocacy in the province.

Goal

To teach participants how to recognize an opioid overdose, how to administer a life-saving drug called Narcan, and to provide all participants who request it with free naloxone kits after the completion of the training.

Target

43 people who attended and benefitted from the workshop, and 20 people form the panel discussion held- a total of 63 persons.

Impact

To reduce the stigma surrounding drug use, increase awareness of harm reduction programs and provide insight for advocacy in the province.