Fentanyl – What is up with it? (April 2016)
Sometimes a piece of media comes along that easily explains an issue well. Please take a look at the recent Globe and Mail piece called How Canada got addicted to fentanyl
Distributing AHS Naloxone Kits
Sometimes the process to become set up to participate in a new program can be tricky. Here is the process that AHS has for naloxone site registration. When a site registers and is approved, then will then be able to order naloxone kits through AHS, and then offer opioid overdose prevention training, prescriptions and dispensing. Reversals will be captured through Health Link.
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/healthinfo/mh/hi-amh-thn-getting-started.pdf
To be a naloxone dispensing site you will need:
- Trainer(s) and prescriber(s) at your site.
- Trainers: health care professionals (e.g. Counsellor, Licenced Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician). Trainers must go through the e-learning module here: http://cdm.absorbtraining.ca/#/login
- Prescribers: Physician, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, prescribing pharmacist
- To register your site – see the form attached (also available on the AHS website below).
- To order naloxone kits from AHS (done after registration).
- Provide overdose response training to clients, write a prescription for the kit (sample prescription available online), and dispense the kit – dispensing record must be filled out prior to issuing a kit.
- Naloxone kits obtained through the AHS program are free of charge to clients
- To complete the monthly on line survey as a condition of the program.
Please note that kits should be ordered in small numbers (i.e. 5-10 per order initially). Restocking will be available.
See more information here: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page13663.aspx
This season, we could use your support
For many years at CAANS we have navigated the world of holiday gift giving with clients. We want to acknowledge this great ritual and be fair to our clients. We work to mitigate the lack of access to food and the caring that seems to happen only on special days during the season. We do an event called the 12 Days of Holidays. This year is our 3rd year.
We hold this event on every night between December 17th – 26th and on December 31& January 1st.
Each night we distribute pieces of holiday cheer and we tend to distribute gift cards. The gift cards are for downtown businesses including: Carnival Cinemas, Tim Hortons, McDonalds, Transit tickets, City Roast and Suspended Coffee. Gifts may also include mandarin oranges, candy canes or holiday cards.
The CAANS NightReach staff use the gifts as an engagement strategy. As the staff encounter people, they engage in conversation and ask questions about their plans for the holidays. During the conversation, staff give the gift of the day and encourage the individual to use the gift cards. Cards are not provided if there are a large number of people together, as we want to ensure there are enough cards to go to everyone. Cards are also not given to individuals who ask, our experience shows these are people who generally are not in dire need, but it is up to the staff’s judgement if they know differently. For the 2014 holiday we received or were able to purchase 139 $10 gift certificates.
If there are any leftovers, they will be used in outreach programming (specifically NightReach, Women’s Program and Harm Reduction).
We implement this event through donations from the community. We would appreciate your support.
In friendship, the CAANS Staff and Volunteers
Berachah’s Closure
April 2013
We are sad to say that the drop in shelter (Berachah’s) which was located downstairs in the same building as Turning Point (but not related to our agency) has closed indefinately due to funding shortages. Don’t worry! We are working with other local agencies on solutions for a warming shelter.
Please see the link from the Red Deer Advocate regarding this change.
http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/local/Drop-in_shelter_for_homeless_closing_279864932.html