Note: this story covers loss, overdose, and medical training-related situations.

It was a day to reflect. A day to mourn. But also—a day to celebrate—as about 75 people took action and learned or re-learned how to administer naloxone.

The event—put together by not-for-profit Purpose Society—also doubled as an effort to try and set a world record—hopefully through Guinness—for the largest number of people to attend a naloxone training event.

During the opening remarks, speakers shared how close the crisis has hit for them, with BC’s Min. of Mental Health and Addictions and New West-based Jennifer Whiteside calling the epidemic a wicked one. For New West Mayor Patrick Johnstone—who was receiving training for the first time—he acknowledged he was thinking of a close friend he’d known through high school who had lost their life in this crisis.

As people stood or sat in the field—on blankets and in chairs—Purpose Society’s Kristina Selby-Brown showed folks how best to administer naloxone, which can be used to reverse the effects of an overdose.

She also revealed how the already complicated drug crisis has become more intricate and challenging because of the problems benzodiazepines has created.

“Because [benzodiazepines are] a tranquilizer, people are in an induced state…they’re not waking up, but we know that naloxone works because they’re breathing again…there is a [benzodiazepine] reversal but you need to be medically supervised to come off [it],” Selby-Brown explained to the crowd.

That being said, Selby-Brown emphasized the importance of being armed with the knowledge to potentially save a life—especially with this epidemic killing more than 12,000 British Columbians in the last seven years. In 2023 alone, 1200 have died—10 of those lives lost were based in New Westminster.

An epidemic that doesn’t discriminate

As was the case in The Anchor’s previous discussion with Selby-Brown, this is an issue that transcends differences. It was a point Min. Whiteside agreed with.

“20% of people who [die are] employed. They’re employed in the trades or in transport; in the transportation industry,” explains Whiteside, who adds she recently held a round table session speaking with folks in the construction and transportation industry, talking about what can be done to help folks in those sectors. “What are the solutions? What do we do for workers in [those] sectors who are impacted by this crisis? How do we reach them?”

Whiteside is pointing to different methods in the approach to curb the crisis, telling The Anchor each factor is important—from funding at different government levels to providing supports.

She also stressed how work being done at the ground level by folks like Selby-Brown can make a tangible difference.

“Kristina talked about how we need more detox beds. That’s a serious issue all health authorities are working on…we need to work on the whole continuum from all the harm reduction efforts to keep people alive so we can get them into the right kind of treatment and support they need.”

She’s also hoping people don’t ignore the call to come together and help.

“We know if somebody’s got a broken arm…you know what to do with it…head to the emergency room and they set [it]. And we have a lot of sympathy for somebody who [has a broken arm and we offer them help.] ‘Can I make something?’ ‘Can I bring groceries to you?’ ‘Can I make you dinner?’ The issue with mental health issues is that those may not be as apparent.”

Some tips The Anchor learned at training

• Make sure you have a couple of pairs of gloves in your naloxone kit. And make sure they’re your size so that you’re comfortable administering it.

• If you have long hair, stash a hair tie inside your kit. You don’t want your hair getting in the way of administering help.

• Augment your training with a basic first aid course. “I think everyone should have this training,” Selby-Brown told the audience.

• Be aware of what could happen. As an example, Selby-Brown addressed fears about someone becoming aggressive when they come to after an overdose. She suggested getting as far away as possible from them—but close enough so that they can hear you. Get down to their level, introduce yourself and smile, and let them know you’ve had to give them naloxone.

• What you see in films and on television isn’t the way an overdose unfolds. The event can happen in an instant—it’s atypical for it to be a long drawn-out process.

• Take care of your mental health. Many people forget to decompress after a response. Phone a friend, talk to someone, journal—do whatever works best for you to cope.

Purpose is planning to forward the details of Thursday’s event for consideration by Guinness World Records, though the verification process will take time.

To learn more about the work Purpose Society does, visit their website, or you can follow them on social media—including Twitter and Instagram. 

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