A medication for opioid use treatment is being made widely available in Interior Health hospital emergency departments as the toxic drug crisis continues to worsen in B.C.
The use of suboxone, a medication for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), has now been expanded to over 20 hospital emergency departments across the region, according to Interior Health. It began as a partnership last June between Interior Health91裸聊视频檚 Emergency Services and Mental Health and Substance Use networks.
Suboxone is an Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) medication, used to treat OUD by preventing withdrawal and reducing cravings for opioid drugs.
91裸聊视频淭he toxic drug crisis continues to impact patients, families, and communities. We can be part of the solution to this ongoing public health emergency and hopefully prevent lives from being lost by providing OAT in the ED,91裸聊视频� said Heather Hair, Interior Health emergency services network director. 91裸聊视频淲e are having conversations and building relationships with people who often have experienced stigma, and hopefully helping keep them from harm.91裸聊视频�
The project includes offering Suboxone 91裸聊视频渢o-go packs91裸聊视频� to start patients at home, along with a new urgent referral process to connect people to ongoing OAT in their communities.
All hospitals in Interior Health are expected to have suboxone available in emergency departments by September.
The toxic drug crisis has claimed thousands of lives in British Columbia since the provincial government declared a public health emergency in 2016.
Last year was the worst year on record for fatal overdose outcomes due to illicit drug toxicity, as the B.C. Coroners Service reported 2,236 deaths. Interior Health mirrored that trend, with 372 deaths due to toxic drugs last year, a 29 per cent increase over 2020.
Out of Interior Health91裸聊视频檚 jurisdiction, the Okanagan region reports the highest number of drug poisoning deaths in the B.C. Interior at 172 in 2021.
A death review panel of experts recently tabled a report examining the circumstances of 6,007 deaths due to toxic drugs, and called for an increased access to safer supply, creation of an evidence-based continuum of care to better support substance users.
That report came with a number of recommendations, one of which included developing a 30/60/90-day action plan that has not been followed by the NDP government, for which it has been roundly criticized.
According to Interior Health, providing front-line nurses and physicians in emergency departments with OAT and training has reduced barriers, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from clinicians and patients.
Laura Sherret, a nurse prescriber who works in Cranbrook, says she was excited to be a part of the OAT implementation at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital emergency department, as it was already 91裸聊视频渇airly limited91裸聊视频� in the community.
91裸聊视频淭he clients I have seen as a nurse prescriber who has succeeded in staying on suboxone or transitioned to the long-acting injectable are doing very well,91裸聊视频� Sherret said. 91裸聊视频淭hey are reconnected to families, have jobs, and are managing life91裸聊视频檚 challenges in positive ways. Others have gone on to other OAT therapies that suit them better so they, too, can move forward. We continue to build relationships and trust with people and support them in their choices.91裸聊视频�
Sherret also noted an 91裸聊视频渁mazing shift91裸聊视频� in emergency department staff as they gained a better understanding of what Suboxone is and how it works.
91裸聊视频淪uboxone is now considered the gold standard of care, and that care is being provided right here in the ED at East Kootenay Regional Hospital.91裸聊视频�
trevor.crawley@cranbrooktownsman.com
Like us on and follow us on
Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation
