Understanding overdose is key to preventing it
By Lethbridge Herald on November 1, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
In 2023, Lethbridge had the highest rate of opioid-related deaths in the province, but in only two years, it has dropped to one of the lowest.
Many experts in the field, such as P.J. Fox, health and safety advisor for the Blood Tribe Department of Health, believe the decrease is due to harm reduction efforts such as Naloxone training.
On Friday afternoon, over a dozen people received Naloxone training from Fox, in partnership with Birchbox Health, Indigenous Recovery Coaching and Sage Clan.
During the free training, participants learned the history of the opioid crisis, how opioid overdoses happen, and what to do if you come across an opioid overdose. Following the training, each one of the participants received a certificate from the Blood Tribe Department of Health.
Opioids have been used for centuries as a pain killer, first found in the latex (sap) of opium poppies and in 1805 the isolation of morphine from opium was created.
As medical advances were made, so were pharmaceuticals with semisynthetic narcotics such as oxycodone, and eventually totally synthetic narcotics which include fentanyl. These narcotics offer pain relief in a way other pain relievers don’t, by attaching themselves to respiratory brain receptors.
During an overdose, the brain receptors become overcrowded by opioid receptors, which then suppress the respiratory system and it begins to shut down.
The brain can only last two minutes without oxygen before brain damage occurs.
Naloxone is the only drug which can reverse opioid overdose and it only works on opioids. Naloxone also has receptors and will kick out on opioid receptor and attach itself to the brain receptor.
This process works within one to five minutes and can last up to 30. However, due to the opioid receptors still being active in the brain, it’s still possible for the person to overdose again.
Naloxone can prevent a person from getting high for up to 24-48 hours, which is why Fox highly recommends only administering it if someone is experiencing an overdose, as the person can become extremely angry due to not having the ability to get high.
People experiencing overdose will go into a deep sleep and will be experiencing troubles breathing.
As heart rates can be hard to find, Fox recommends opening an eyelid; if the pupils are exceedingly small it’s a telltale sign of an overdose. The first step in the situation should always be to call 911.
Naloxone comes in both nasal spray and injection kits. The Nasal spray contains eight times the amount of Naloxone as the injection, but can take longer for the effects to kick in.
However, due to an overdose being an emergency situation, Fox recommends starting with the nasal spray, as it is quick and easy to administer and then to follow up with an injection, if needed.
When administering an injection, fill the syringe with air and take off the cap of the needle, then inert the needle in the vile of naloxone, ensuring the needle is within the liquid. The needle will be large enough it can be administered over clothing and is automatically retractable.
The nasal spray kits come with two doses and the injection kits include three doses, many times more than one dose is administered, depending on the potency of the drug.
Following the administration of Naloxone, CPR may be used if the person is unresponsive. Once the person begins to wake up, put them in the recovery position (on their side) ensuring their airway stays clear in the case they end up vomiting.
As many drugs are often mixed together and while Naloxone only reverses overdoses caused by opioids, Fox says it still can save someone’s life as it will reverse the opioid so the drugs aren’t doubling down on each other.
When storing naloxone kits, keep them at room temperature as extreme heat or cold can lower their effectiveness. While they do expire, Fox says they can still be used, they will less effective, so more will have to be used.
Naloxone kits are available for free at many pharmacies and everyone is encouraged to carry and understand how to administer it in the case of an overdose.
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” . . . Many experts in the field, such as P.J. Fox, health and safety advisor for the Blood Tribe Department of Health, believe the decrease is due to harm reduction efforts such as Naloxone training. . . . ”
I completely disagree with this statement as someone who has researched the issues since 2016. I respect much of the work the Blood Tribe Dept of Health has done and the efforts put forth providing a much better Lethbridge Shelter administration than it’s failed predecessor, but Naloxone training is only a small part of why there has been a decrease!
Naloxone has been handed out for several years, along with training by the SCS when it was open! The SCS has been closed since August of 2020!
Perhaps he meant the fatal overdoses in the Kainai community!
The primary reason Alberta, especially Lethbridge has seen a big reduction in fatal overdoses is because of the UCP government approach to dealing with the crisis, moving away from SCS’s and harm reduction practises and focusing on a treatment and recovery model! That is why we have seen such a huge change in fatal overdoses! Another factor has been the increased staffing of fire/EMS and police to respond to overdoses. I would note the fire/EMS respond to multiple suspected overdoses daily, yet the stats only show 25-30 per month. Why? I believe the responses are only documented if the patient is transported! I personally have attended several overdoses the last 6 months downtown, giving Narcan nasal and Naloxone, when 911 dispatch advises when waiting for fire/EMS to arrive.
I am not trying to take away from the positive changes the Blood Tribe has made, or the efforts to clean up crime in their community, which also has been a factor . . . they deserve a well done for the changes and efforts they have made!
Narcan nasal and Naloxone are an important tool, especially in rural areas, but the primary factor is the change in policy! BC proved over 22 years harm reduction policies failed and safe supply failed!
Enforcement of laws, drug courts, effective treament programs which deal with trauma along with post treatment progams which include employment support, not harm reduction/SCS’s are the answer!