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
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Fine dining, at a new high. A Michelin-starred chef will take his cuisine to our upper atmosphere
Six guests are set to ascend aboard Spaceship Neptune to the stratosphere, where they will enjoy an immersive dining experience served up by Danish Michelin-starred chef Rasmus Munk.