Comprehensive overdose response with oxygen: Training for shelter providers in Toronto

With the escalating contamination of benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine-like adulterants in the non-prescribed opioid supply, oxygen has become an increasingly important tool to safely manage overdoses that may only partially respond to the opioid reversal agent naloxone. This activity is a collaboration between Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (PQWCHC) and Homes First Society (Homes First) shelter operators to create a medical directive for the provision of oxygen by Homes First staff in situations of suspected opioid overdose. To ensure competency in overdose response including oxygen provision, a 4.5 hour module training session was developed based on previous PQWCHC materials and in consultation with the current harm reduction educators. This activity has the potential to be scaled and modified for implementation in other shelter settings as a vital tool in responding to the ongoing morbidity and mortality from the overdose crisis.