Grieving mother Michelle Miller continues to raise awareness about toxic drug poisoning, urging parents in Prince George to educate themselves.
Toxic drug poisoning is not just a problem on the streets of Prince George.
Miller lost her son, Tanner, in 2019 when his drug of choice, methamphetamine, was laced with a fatal dose of fentanyl.
Since then, Miller, a registered nurse, has been on a mission to eliminate the stigma and help spread the word that being prepared for toxic drug poisoning, including being trained to use naloxone, is just as essential as taking precautionary measures like having a fire extinguisher at home.
“It’s always good to be prepared,” Miller said, referencing Moms Stop the Harm and the Heartbreak of Fentanyl support group.
“If you suspect your child is using substances, I strongly suggest having a kit in your home,” Miller said. “It could save your child’s life or their friend’s life.”
Training sessions on how to use naloxone are held monthly by Northern Health nurses for anyone concerned. The next session will take place at the main branch of the Prince George Public Library on Tuesday, March 11, at 6 p.m.
Miller noted several signs to watch for in teens, including a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, replacing old friends with a new group, acting despondent, aggressive or angry, sleeping more than usual, breaking rules, and showing physical changes like sudden weight loss, frequent nosebleeds, bloodshot or watery eyes, and shakes or tremors.
“These are some of the things parents need to be watching for,” Miller said.
Miller encourages everyone to be aware of the signs of an opioid overdose or poisoning, which include difficulty walking, talking or staying awake; blue, purple or grey lips or nails; very small pupils; cold, clammy skin; dizziness or confusion; extreme drowsiness; choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds; slow or absent breathing.
“Every parent’s nightmare is finding their child slumped over their computer, in their bed, on their bedroom floor, locked behind a bathroom door or even dropped off on their front lawn because their friends panicked,” Miller said.
“The breath of life is the first thing you do because, within three minutes without oxygen, vital organs begin to shut down, and within five minutes, your heart stops.”
Accidental toxic drug poisoning can affect all family members, including toddlers or children who ingest prescription opioids their parents take, such as Tylenol with codeine, dilaudid (hydromorphone), morphine, fentanyl patches, lollipops, lozenges, sprays or tablets, and cough syrups containing codeine.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of locking up medications and disposing of unused medicine by returning it to local pharmacies,” Miller said. “Children can also access illicit substances containing opioids, like fentanyl and carfentanyl, from their parents, caregivers, or siblings.”
Even grandparents can be accidentally poisoned by their own opioid medications.
“Many older people are on arthritis or cancer medications that contain opioids, and they can accidentally take too much,” Miller explained. “They may forget they took their medicine and take a second dose an hour later — or even a third dose. So, they are at risk of an opioid overdose, and having the kit on hand could save their life.”
According to Canada.ca, naloxone can begin to take effect within two minutes. If no response is seen after the initial dose, additional doses can safely be administered. Naloxone works by displacing opioids from receptors in the brain and binding to those receptors, reversing or blocking the effects of opioids on the body. Naloxone is effective only if opioids are present in the system. While naloxone is active for 30 to 120 minutes, the effects of most opioids last longer. As a result, naloxone may wear off before the opioids are out of the system, leading to a return of breathing issues. In such cases, naloxone may need to be administered again, and medical attention should be sought. Naloxone is safe for all ages and cannot be misused.
All pharmacies in Prince George offer free injectable naloxone kits, and nasal naloxone kits are available for First Nations people at no cost.
Naloxone training is free, drop-in, and designed for adults. After the training, kits will be available for take-home use. The first training session will be held on Tuesday, March 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library. A second session is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, at the Nechako branch in the Hart from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
For more information, email Miller at [email protected].
