As the opioid overdose epidemic continues to surge, public health officials and first responders have turned to naloxone, the drug that reverses overdoses, to help combat the rising tide. Research from Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston shows its effectiveness. A review of emergency medical services data from Massachusetts found that when given naloxone, 93.5% of people survived their overdose. The research looked at more than 12,000 dosages administered between July 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015. A year after their overdose, 84.3% of those who had been given the reversal drug were still alive. Do you know anyone who has been a victim of an overdose, and did they survive?

Naloxone (pronounced na-LOX-own, also known by the brand name Narcan) is a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Opioids are drugs that are usually used to treat pain, but some people use opioids to get high. Some commonly used opioids include fentanyl, morphine, heroin, methadone and oxycodone. When someone overdoses on opioids, their breathing either slows or stops completely. If used right away, naloxone can help them breathe normally and regain consciousness. Naloxone can either be injected or through a nasal spray. Ontario pharmacies offer free injectable naloxone kits. You don't need a prescription to get one but you will need to show your Ontario health card. The pharmacist will train you on how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to use the kit. Would you be someone who was interested in having one of these kits?

Do you know the signs of an opioid overdose? These are the symptoms of an overdose, but not all of these will happen every time. Which of these symptoms were you aware of?

All across Canada these kits are available. They are free if you meet certain criteria. Do you fall into any of these criteria?

Once saved from an overdose, a patient had about a 1 in 10 chance of not surviving a year. This in no way diminishes the effectiveness of naloxone as a life-saver, but it does not address the underlying problem of opioid use. More education and better ways of handling pain management must be examined. Do you know someone who uses some form of opioid for pain management?