B.C. politician carries naloxone kit wherever she goes

A B.C. politician is fighting the battle against fentanyl by visibly carrying a naloxone kit wherever she goes.

"I'm wearing it publicly to make a point. I want people to notice it, I want people to see how easy it is to carry and how accessible it is. I want them to ask me questions about training so that I can encourage them to do that," said Kiersten Duncan, a Maple Ridge city councillor.

Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil.

The kit is about the size of a case for sunglasses.

Duncan compares naloxone to an EpiPen a pen-like injector used to reverse severe allergic reactions.

"I've found there's a great deal of stigma in carrying a kit because it inherently suggests that someone is using and there's a lot of stigma around addictions and mental health," she said.

"[But] naloxone kits are extremely safe and are proven to save lives. The more people who carry them, the better chance we have of helping that person before emergency services arrive."

Duncan is inviting the public to the Greg Moore Youth Centre in Maple Ridge tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. PT to learn more.

"People will have the opportunity to learn basic first aid skills, how to administer naloxone, what naloxone does, and they'll also have the opportunity to take home a naloxone kit," she said.

B.C. is in the midst of a drug overdose crisis.

The B.C. Coroners Service said the number of fentanyl-related deaths has tripled since last year. In Maple Ridge alone, there have been 20 overdose deaths this year.

"Anyone that is using or experimenting is at risk," Duncan said. "This is a tremendous issue across Canada and British Columbia."

With files from The Early Edition

To listen to the interview, click on the link labelled City councillor from Maple Ridge carries Naloxone kit to raise awareness