It was a conversation with some of his students that prompted a Douglas College instructor to organize a public forum on fentanyl, naloxone and overdose prevention next week in Coquitlam.
Gerry Gramozis, who teaches lab components in the psychology department, said the after-class chat made him realize there were still a lot of misconceptions about the powerful opioid that has been blamed for hundreds of ODs and deaths.
"I was teaching a class on addictions and had some students stay behind, and they said to me, 'I don't need to worry about an overdose because I'm not buying drugs on the Downtown Eastside,'" Gramozis said. "I went home thinking… despite all the warnings we're hearing, all the lectures we give, that this is a prevailing attitude."
That prompted him in just the last few weeks to put together the Dec. 1 public forum with help from Fraser Health, the college and Share Family and Community Services.
Guest speakers include Dr. Ingrid Tyler, a medical health officer with Fraser Health, who will discuss overdose statistics, how naloxone works as well as epidemiology responses in the region.
Mark Goheen, a clinical specialist in Fraser Health's mental health and substance use services, will focus on community supports and how to help those who may be at risk while Share's supervisor of adult substance use services, Rob Buirs, will discuss the services available through his organization.
Gramozis said he hopes a wide cross-section of the public attends the forum, whether it's teens, young adults or parents, or anyone else who wants to learn more about fentanyl.
"Overdoses can happen to anybody, it doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter where you're buying your drugs from," he said. "The idea is that talking about these issues might encourage people to become knowledgeable, minimize the risks and learn what they can do to help people should an overdose occur."
• The free public forum takes place on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Douglas College's David Lam Campus in Coquitlam, in Room A1470.
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