Welcome to the Distributing Naloxone to Clients. This course is intended for RNs, RPNs, LPNs, social workers, occupational therapists, allied health and unregulated care providers who have college and/or manager approval to distribute Naloxone.
British Columbia is in the midst of an overdose public health emergency. Deaths from overdose in the past two years have increased dramatically. Many of these deaths are due to the contamination of the illicit drug supply with Fentanyl, a strong opioid painkiller. VCH staff and clients can save lives if they are trained and equipped with Naloxone, the antidote to opioids. This course will enable you to offer your clients this training and Naloxone.
Illicit drug use is highly stigmatized, and many clients will not feel comfortable opening up about their drug use if they feel they will be judged by their care provider. It is essential that VCH staff become competent at providing safe and respectful care to clients who use illicit substances or who have friends or family who use these substances. Each health care encounter is an opportunity to teach someone to prevent, recognize and respond to an overdose. Teaching clients to respond to overdoses, give breaths, and use Naloxone can save lives and prevent brain damage.
Allied health, unregulated care providers and RN/RPN/LPNs are now all able to distribute Naloxone. For the purpose of this course, we will use the term "distribute" throughout, to include both terms. In this course you will learn:
