Link2Build is hosting a special webinar on September 30 looking at the opioid epidemic, its effects on workers in the construction industry, and the importance of naloxone kits.

Presenter Mark Barnes is a pharmacist and the owner of Respect Rx Pharmacies. He has been a leader in establishing programs for the opioid crisis, and is a passionate advocate for the respectful treatment of those with substance abuse and mental health issues.

Opioid consumption and overdose have reached record levels in Canada. Between 2016 and 2020, more than 20,000 people died in Canada from opioid-related causes. Ontario saw a 60-percent increase in opioid-related deaths in 2020, with one third of those deaths among workers in the construction industry.

“Because this problem is expected to grow over the next few years, Ontario’s Ministry of Health has invested in a publicly funded naloxone program which started in 2016. Naloxone nasal spray is a medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and it is an excellent addition to any jobsite’s first aid kit,” says Barnes. “Under my guidance, Respect Rx Pharmacy, has trained over 50,000 people on how to use a naloxone kit and be prepared to manage an opioid overdose.”

Barnes’ message is that opioid overdoses can happen to anyone—not just heroin or fentanyl users, but anyone who accidentally ingests or mis-manages their prescriptions.

“My presentation talks about the most recent drug use trends,” Barnes says. “It then leads into how a bystander can properly recognize behaviours that place someone at high risk of a drug overdose and why. The presentation continues to introduce nasal naloxone as an overdose antidote and talks about how to quickly identify an opioid overdose. The presentation ends with a proper naloxone training and free naloxone kit distribution.”

Registration for this session is free of charge.

Featured image: Presenter Mark Barnes is a recognized leader in establishing programs for the opioid crisis. (Mark Barnes)