The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has some powerful new allies in its fight to save lives from opioid overdoses, faith-based leaders.
Synagogues, churches, and mosques will soon speak with their congregations about the opioid crisis and its impact on their communities. They will also distribute naloxone kits.
"Every single individual one of us has the ability to have an affect on someone else," said Rabbi Sholom Galperin. "People may say the Rabbi will do this. The Bishop will do this. The Imam will do it. Everyone can give excuses for someone else. But if I know something, one thing even, to help someone else, I have that obligation to help that individual person."
Acting Medical Officer of Health Doctor Shanker Nesathurai encourages everyone to keep a naloxone kit in their home. He said he keeps one both in his office and around the house.
"I have three young adults. Every so often, they might have friends, and they might have a party, and they might have an event," said Nesathurai. "It's better to be safe and be prepared."
It's the first time the health unit has teamed up with faith-based leaders to address the ongoing crisis in Windsor-Essex.
"Partnerships through the Ontario Naloxone Program are typically with healthcare organizations, substance treatment facilities, and hospitals," explained Eric Nadalin, the health unit's health promotion director. "We're very excited to have the engagement of our faith-based institution on this particular project."
In preparation, the health unit has ordered an extra 1,000 naloxone kits from the Ministry of Health and will "continue to increase that inventory as demand dictates."
The public can also get a free naloxone kit from participating pharmacies. Nadalin estimates 60 per cent of the kits distributed to the public come through those businesses.