Notes

Though it’s life-saving stuff for people experiencing an overdose, naloxone won’t harm someone who hasn’t taken opioids.

When Leigh Chapman’s brother died of an opioid overdose in 2015, she began working tirelessly to advocate for better harm reduction strategies and services. A registered nurse in Toronto, Chapman knows all too well that it’s crucial to train as many people as possible on how to intervene. But up until 2016, naloxone, the life-saving opioid-overdose reverser, was mostly only available in Canada to medical professionals and emergency-response personnel.

Now, Chapman says, “You can pick up a kit for free at a drugstore and get the training [on how to administer it] from the pharmacist,” a process that takes, at most, 20 minutes. By knocking

the opioids in a person’s system off the brain receptors where they’re having their effect, naloxone (often known by its brand name, Narcan) reverses overdoses in just a few minutes. And because of the sheer number of overdose deaths that are happening across the country—approximately 20 people die due to opioids each day, a rate that’s risen sharply during the pandemic— SHOULD YOU CARRY Chapman sees this training as crucial. “It’s something we should all be doing.” NALOXONE? “The people in the community who need naloxone are non-medical professionals. If we tied it to medical professionals only, we

The free, easy-to-use spray can reverse would see an increase in overdose deaths,” the effects of an opioid overdose in says Christy Sutherland, medical director just a few minutes, buying enough of the PHS Community Services Socitime for medical help to arrive ety in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. A 2020 study found that, in B.C., more Written by TAYO BERO than 40,000 kits were used to reverse an overdose between 2012 and 2018, after a concerted provincial effort to get naloxone into the hands of not just those at risk of an overdose but also friends and family likely to witness an overdose, as well as the wider population. Sutherland says she’s lost count of how many overdoses she herself has reversed on the streets outside her clinic; more than 100, probably, over the past few years. The process of using naloxone is fairly simple: Every kit includes gloves, a protective plastic barrier for mouth-to-mouth breathing and the drug itself, either as an injectable (via a syringe inserted into a muscle) or, more commonly, as a nasal inhaler. To determine whether someone is experiencing an overdose, first try to wake them by shouting and pinching the webbing between their thumb and finger. Chapman points out that people who are unresponsive are not able to consent to having the drug administered to them. And while naloxone isn’t harmful to someone who isn’t experiencing an overdose, you certainly don’t just go up to a stranger and stick it in their nose or arm. “Whenever I’ve encountered somebody on the street, I’ve said several times, ‘You’ve got to wake up because I’m going to give you naloxone.’ And if they don’t wake up, they need naloxone,” she says. Once administered, the drug continues to work for 20 to 90 minutes. But opioids can remain in the body for longer than that—and that’s why, even after you’ve stepped in to give someone naloxone, it’s still important to dial 911 and bring in the professionals.

The hormonal shifts that occur during menopause are responsible for more than just hot flashes and mood swings. They signify a loss of estrogen and testosterone which can lead to changes in a woman’s body and sexual health related issues. For example, women may notice that they’re not as easily aroused, leading to less interest in sex. According to the Bonafide® State of Menopause Survey 2021, 53% of women surveyed engaged in sexual activity with a partner(s) less often after menopause. It’s a common issue, but women often feel embarrassed or ashamed discussing these topics with their partner or doctor.

During menopause and post menopause, the body’s production of estrogen decreases, which also influences collagen’s ability to provide support for the pelvis. The tissue in the vaginal area and the bladder region loses tone and elasticity, which can decrease the body’s ability to keep things functioning as they once did. Women with vaginal laxity can be uncomfortable with vaginal appearance or may experience reduced sensation and pain during sexual activity. Beyond the physical symptoms, this can have a significant impact on one’s emotional health and relationships. “Oftentimes, when we stop having sex, we also stop being physically close and affectionate,” says Dr. Jess O’Reilly, a Torontobased Sexologist who holds a PHD in Human Sexuality. “This occurs because many couples only express

physical affection as a means of initiating sex. A lack of intimacy can also have a major impact on one’s confidence and self-esteem.” What many women don’t know is there are options other than hormone replacement therapy, lubricant, and abstinence. Silk ’n, a global leader in home-use medical aesthetic devices for over a decade, has recently launched Tightra, a device that is clinically proven to treat the symptoms of menopause, tighten the pelvic floor, improve sexual function, and increase sexual sensation. Tightra is a safe, painless, and effective intimate wellness solution for intimate health-related issues. Cleared by Health Canada, Tightra is the first and only home-use device that utilizes Radio Frequency Energ y, a medically proven technolog y that increases blood flow and boosts elastin and collagen production in weakened pelvic floor muscles. Tightra also stimulates the cells, enhancing natural lubrication, increasing sensation, and improving external appearance. 92% of the women who participated in Tightra clinical trials experienced reduced feminine itching, P H O T O C R E D I T: D A V E L A U S burning, and pain, and 89% experienced improvement in sexual function. Participants used the Tightra three times a week for 20-minute sessions for a period of four weeks. O’Reilly stresses that communication is an essential component when navigating changes in the sexual relationship. “Assumptions and expectations are often tied to a lack of communication,” says O’Reilly. “Don’t blame Dr. Jess O’Reilly your partner or yourself. Share your feelings and speak your truth, even if it is a difficult conversation.”