Mississauga Considers Providing Overdose Kits and EpiPens at Community Centers

Mississauga may equip its community centres with drug overdose kits and EpiPens to help save lives, according to a City councillor’s proposal. Ward 2 Councillor Alvin Tedjo raised concerns about whether community centres in Mississauga have naloxone kits, which can be used to revive someone experiencing an opioid overdose, and if they’re stocked with enough EpiPens to treat severe allergic reactions.

Naloxone kits are portable pouches containing an opioid antidote that can be administered by injection or through the nose. The kits include enough medicine to reverse opioid overdoses for a limited time, allowing emergency services to be contacted. EpiPens are auto-injector devices that deliver epinephrine to reduce the body’s allergic reaction. They’re carried by people at risk of severe allergic reactions to allergens like food, insects, and medication.

Mississauga’s senior staff will look into both issues and report back to councillors. They noted that cost, misuse, and a shortage of EpiPens in the past were potential concerns, and that staff at all Mississauga community centres have access to EpiPens, which are also on all city fire trucks.