The northern health region of Keewatin Yatthe is now offering a life-saving drug aimed at reducing overdose deaths from opioid drugs like fentanyl.

The director of addictions and mental health for the region,mByrne Richards, says opioids on the market today are much stronger than they used to be and pose a far greater risk of death.

He says fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and it is often cut with other drugs. He says the user may not even know they are ingesting it until it is too late. Richards, says Naloxone is an andidote that quickly reverses the effects of opioids, which can cause respiratory arrest and heart failure.

For the people who need it, it is absolutely, 100% the most important thing that’s there and it can save a life,” he says.

The naloxone kits are free, but users as well as family and friends need to be trained on recognizing, preventing and responding to an overdose. Richards says it’s important for the user to be honest about their addiction.

If you are using and you have a family member who knows or who maybe doesn’t know that you use, it’s really important that you let them know about this so they can be there to help you when you are not able to help yourself.”

The Keewatin Yatthe health authority becomes the 9th in the province to implement the program.

Individuals interested in more information about the kits or the training are asked to call 306-235-5822.