Montreal med students working to help those addicted to opioids
McGill University medical students are trying to help treat people who are addicted to opioids. They say many aren't equipped to handle the withdrawal.
ConsumAction is a student-run organization whose members were busy at work Sunday, tucked away in a university lounge-turned-headquarters in their fight against opioid addiction.
They spent the day assembling kits to help people coming off of opioids and dealing with withdrawal. Symptoms can be serious and include vomiting, muscle aches and diarrhea.
Each kit contains several items to help alleviate those symptoms, including ibuprofen, meal replacements, and electrolyte tablets, among other items.
"We decided to create these kits that will include all the necessary supplies to alleviate the symptoms these people will experience during withdrawal," said ConsumAction founder Felix David.
The team is mostly made up of med students across disciplines. They say the medical system doesn't go far enough to help people overcome their addiction.
"They had the medication for the withdrawal, but they didn't have for everything else that surrounds that," said med student Massimo Ieropoli, as he divided over-the-counter meds into smaller bottles.
The organization's co-president, Victoria Sebag, said the kits could also help people from relapsing as an escape from their withdrawal symptoms.
"They can have very significant symptoms, which also kind of increase the likelihood that people can go back to using drugs or relapse," she said. "So, we really want to assess those needs and let people know that there is comfort out there if they are to continue pursuing a life without drugs."
Montreal paramedics have been responding to more opioid-related overdoses in recent years.
In 2018, they reported 137 cases where paramedics administered Naloxone -- a medication used to reverse the effects of opioids. In 2021, there were 252.
ConsumAction volunteers are aiming to make 75 kits to be brought to local clinics with hopes of preventing the next relapse.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.