In October, Susan saw something no mother should never have to see.
Susan, who did not want to use her real name to protect the identity of her son, was napping in her home on the West Shore when suddenly she was struck with an odd feeling and made her way upstairs to her sonB次元官网网址檚 bedroom. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when she heard it. A deep gurgling B次元官网网址� the unmistakable sound of an overdose B次元官网网址� and found her son unconscious on his bed.
B次元官网网址淚 knew straight away what it was B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 something you never want to hear,B次元官网网址� Susan said. B次元官网网址淚t was the most horrible thing IB次元官网网址檝e ever experienced.B次元官网网址�
Having had previous training on how to administer naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, Susan called 911 and sprang into action. She grabbed her narcan kit and injected one dose of naloxone. Shortly after paramedics arrived, her son came to.
SusanB次元官网网址檚 sonB次元官网网址檚 addiction started when a friend offered him drugs and over the next five years he struggled with the addiction that led to a brief jail term. He had only been home a few days and things seemed to be going well, when he overdosed. After being revived, her son realized it was an experience he never wanted to put his family through again and wanted to get help. B次元官网网址淗e felt bad that he put me through that,B次元官网网址� Susan said.
RELATED: New health centre provides therapy to opioid users
Shortly after, SusanB次元官网网址檚 son began opioid therapy treatment at AIDS Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 health centre in Langford, which provides opiate substitution therapy, as well as harm reduction services and information on disease prevention, safer drug use and overdose prevention to patients.
HeB次元官网网址檚 been on a substitution treatment called suboxone for the last six months and sees the clinicB次元官网网址檚 doctor, Randal Mason, regularly. In recent months, Susan has seen a huge improvement in her sonB次元官网网址檚 health.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a totally different young man. I feel heB次元官网网址檚 the man he was before he started drug use,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the clinic treats patients with compassion respect and dignity, and has become a safety net for her son, who knows he can touch base with a doctor whenever he needs.
B次元官网网址淭his clinic has been an absolute godsend to our family, my son and the community as a whole. Without this program, I donB次元官网网址檛 know where he would be. Because of the opioid crisis now, this clinic is a vital part of the whole solution B次元官网网址� We need this clinic here.B次元官网网址�
RELATED: Wide range of Greater Victoria residents taking on naloxone training
SusanB次元官网网址檚 son is one of the dozens of people the centre has helped since it opened on Jacklin Road last October. Originally, the clinic was seeing roughly 15 patients per day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Since then, that number has ballooned to more than 80 patients overall as a result of referrals and walk-ins.
The centre has brought on another doctor, nurse Carolyn Showler B次元官网网址� along with her informal therapy dog Griffey, an intern, and has extended its hours to include Monday afternoons.
But with increased demand for services comes the need for funding. AIDS Vancouver Island dipped into its reserve fund to open the clinic. In recent months, the clinic has been garnering support from local organizations, municipalities and politicians B次元官网网址� many who have thrown their support behind it. But if funding from outside sources canB次元官网网址檛 be secured by the time the reserves run out, the services at the clinic could be impacted.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e talking about 80 plus people and their families and loved ones who would be impacted, as well as the staff here. And in the middle of an opioid crisis, it just doesnB次元官网网址檛 make sense to me,B次元官网网址� said Hermione Jefferis, manager of health promotion and community development with AIDS Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e having lots of great conversations and discussions, but at this point we still have not had any concrete financial support from outside of AVI.B次元官网网址�
Other families on the West Shore have spoken up about the benefits of the clinic as well.
C.A.B次元官网网址檚 son has struggled with opioid addiction for the last seven years. After first being introduced to pot when he was a teenager, he began to experiment with other drugs, such as crystal meth and heroin.
He spent years in and out of treatment centres across the province, until a family member told C.A. about the West Shore clinic that opened in her own neighbourhood.
B次元官网网址淲e found it really hard living here and having to go downtown, if he had no money, didnB次元官网网址檛 have a bus pass or had to work,B次元官网网址� she said, noting he was on the methadone program at the clinic. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to see them like that.B次元官网网址�
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