The conversations around opioids and what to do about them in Thunder Bay are ongoing.

Health officials indicate that between 2019 and 2020, there was a 40 per cent increase in deaths in Thunder Bay tied to both prescription and non-prescription overdoses.

Pharmacist Sarah Haney with Court Street Pharmacy feels without question the ongoing coronavirus pandemic can be tied to the increase in it’s usage, especially with those who may have anxiety or isolation issues.

Listen: Sarah Haney Interview

Haney is also passionate about having naloxone kits as readily available as a first aid kid.

“It’s as simple as going to your local pharmacy and asking for one,” mentioned Haney. “You don’t even have to show identification if you’re not comfortable with that so anyone can have access to this. It’s important that everyone has a kit on hand.”

Haney added the warning signs for someone who’s ingested prescription or non-prescription opioids includes slow, shallow or no breathing, a change in skin colour and loud snoring or gurgling.

For more on the crisis click here