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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,A pril 8,2021 theifp.ca Interlocking & Concrete Specialists Call Mario 905.842.7171 sunmarlandscape.com ™ La n d s c a p in g 3133 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Milton, On L9E 0J7 • Pebble Concrete • Stamped Concrete • Interlocking • Flagstone • Walkways • Garage Floors • Patios • Driveways • Curbs (French) Interlocking & Concrete Specialists Communities we serve: Located in Halton region, we work in and around • Milton • Campbellville • Burlington • Aldershot • Hamilton • Oakville • Mississauga • Waterdown • Carlisle sleep dentistry available New Patients Welcome Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Marketplace dental Centre Georgetown Marketplace Mall 905-877-CARE (2273) • www.georgetowndental.com HOURS: Monday & Wednesday 8:00am - 8:00pm • Tuesday & Thursday 8:00am - 6:00pm • Saturday 8:00am - 3:00pm Proudly Serving Georgetown Since 1994. FULL-SERVICE RETIREMENT HOME Located on the cusp of the Hamlet of Glen Williams 222 Mountainview Road North, Georgetown 905-877-1800 www.mountainviewresidence.com Mountainview Residence by the Glen The only family owned & operated retirement home in Halton Hills. On-site activities to foster social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. Mountainview Residents are fully vaccinated, all are in good spirits We are growing with our community. Come see our new designs starting summer 2021! You've worked hard to enjoy retirement, now it's our pleasure to make this the best time of your life in a family, friendly atmosphere. Our residents enjoy social meals (variety of food choices), along with discrete personal care services to support daily well being. As the region reels from a surge of suspected over- doses, Crime Stoppers of Halton held a virtual pre- sentation on local opioid use and what can be done to help those struggling with addiction. The webinar -- held in partnership with Halton police and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) -- took place March 23 and was hosted by Danny Sud, a registered nurse with CMHA Halton specializing in addiction and mental health. Sud said that between January 2016 and Septem- ber 2018 there were 10,300 opioid-related deaths in Canada. In Halton last year there were 241 suspected overdos- es, 38 of which were fatal. The same day, Sud held his presentation, Halton police took to social media and reported that since the beginning of March they have responded to approxi- mately 23 suspected over- doses, five being fatal. The registered nurse al- so pointed out that some- one who survives an opioid overdose can be left with significant brain injuries if not revived quickly enough. "This is, without a doubt, a public health emergency," said Sud. In an effort to help his audience understand opioid addiction, Sud dis- cussed some of the reasons people have so much diffi- culty quitting once hooked. One reason involves the brain's production of dopa- mine, a chemical messen- ger that lets someone do things like regulate their emotions, manage stress and feel pleasure and hap- piness. Sud said that when someone takes an opioid, the pleasure centres of the brain produce two to 10 times more dopamine than normal. "You feel great, you feel very euphoric, very elated," said Sud. The downside, he said, is that after abusing opioids for only a short time the body stops producing dopa- mine on its own, which leaves the user almost com- pletely dependent on opioids to produce dopa- mine and keep them from feeling horrible. Worse still, Sud noted, is that after someone stops taking opioids it can take their brain two years to get back to the point where it is sufficiently producing do- pamine on its own. Heavy opioid users can also expect to experience withdrawal symptoms, which range from nausea and vomiting to abdominal cramps and muscle aches and pains. Sud said these symp- toms start within six to 24 hours of stopping opioid use and peak in intensity on the third day. Withdrawal from opioids is not life-threaten- ing, Sud said. However, there are risks to pregnant women and a risk of suicide for some, particularly if the with- drawal is sudden, untreat- ed or forced. "The withdrawal is so uncomfortable the individ- ual may decide to die by sui- cide rather than to go through that process," said Sud. "So, it is so important that individuals that are in the early stages of with- drawal really have the right supports around them, so they do not die by suicide or experience a relapse." It was also pointed out that people going through withdrawal are at high risk of overdosing if they use again. Sud said the body rapid- ly loses the tolerance it has built up once that regular opioid use stops. He said this tolerance drop can start after as little as a few hours and what that means is someone who takes an opioid at the amount they are used to af- ter a couple days of taking nothing may have an acci- dental overdose. Sud said it is essential when supporting someone who has abstained from opioids for a period to ad- vise them to put some mea- sures in place to keep them- selves safe if they think they are going to have a re- lapse. Halton police have said some of these precautions include: not using alone, going slow when using, knowing the signs of an overdose and carrying nal- oxone. When it comes to getting off opioids, Sud said substi- tution therapy via metha- done or suboxone is best. He said quitting cold tur- key seldom works in his ex- perience. For more information visit https://www.halton- police.ca/en/staying-safe/ overdose-awareness.aspx. NEWS 'THIS IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY' NURSE SHARES FRIGHTENING REALITY OF OPIOD USE DURING CRIME STOPPERS WEBINAR DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Opioid use was discussed during a Crime Stoppers of Halton presentation. Metroland file photo