THE government has doubled funding for a program helping to prevent drug overdoses in central Victoria.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bendigo Community Health Services drug safety worker Bart McGill said the organisation secured a $5000 grant from the Department of Health in 2017-18 to participate in the Naloxone Subsidy Initiative.
“In 2018-19 the department has given us $10,000,” Mr McGill said.
Naloxone is a drug that can ‘reverse’ the effects of an opioid overdose, giving paramedics more time to respond.
Mr McGill said BCHS was aware of four drug overdose ‘reversals’ in the region in the past 12 months linked to its efforts to equip and train people in the use of Naloxone.
“Just hearing of times when Naloxone has been successfully used makes us really encouraged it’s a successful program,” he said.
“It’s a practical way to help reduce the disaster that is fatal overdoses.
“We have encouraged anyone who is likely to be at risk themselves or witness to an overdose to take a Naloxone script.”
Anyone who uses opiates and opiate-based medication is at risk of overdose, according to BCHS.
Mr McGill was hopeful Naloxone would become a connected prescription for patients on opiate-based medications.
“We’re just trying to build that association between the two,” Mr McGill said
He estimated BCHS had been involved in training and prescribing Naloxone to more than 200 people within its service area.
“We’re going to try to expand it further,” Mr McGill said.
For more information about the BCHS Naloxone program, click here.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.