Bar staff to learn about drug overdoses at new workshop in Toronto

Bar staff will get a chance in Toronto on Monday evening to learn how to recognize drug overdoses in patrons, how to prevent overdosesand how best to respond in the hopes of saving lives.

A workshop is being held in Kensington Market for barowners, bartenders and servers. The idea is to educate staff members who may have to deal with situations involving "intentionally drugged" people.

The workshop will provide information, training and treatment options. It will also include an overview of trends in night life and party drugs.

"We figured, 'why not be ahead of the curve and learn how to deal with these problems before they are coming into our establishments?'" Mike Shepherd, chair of theKensingtonMarket BIA, toldMetro Morningon Monday.

The Toronto Rave Information Project, the Kensington Market BIA, Coun. Joe Cressy and the Queen West Central Toronto Community Health Centre have all helped to organize the workshop.

Shepherd said the workshop will review what should be done immediately, how to treat symptoms, when to call an ambulance and how to use Naloxone, medication that counters the effects of opioids, including morphine, oxycodone and heroin. Naloxoneis available in a nasal spray.

Staff will also learn about the effects of GHB, known as the date rape drug.

"You never know when it's going to happen at a smaller club."

Shepherd, owner of the bar Trinity Common, said organizers of larger events, such as raves and music festivals, will have medical staff and ambulances on hand when theyknow thatdrugs will be used, but smaller bars have fewer resources and need to prepared. It's really a kind of first aid training, he said.

"It's starting to trickle down to smaller bars and venues now," he said. "You always want to be prepared."

Shepherd said bar staff, if they have Smart Serve training, already know about the effects of too much alcohol on patrons but may not be as well versed in drug overdoses.

When he managed a large nightclub in Toronto, he encountered people who had mixed recreational or prescription drugs and alcohol and were"completely incoherent." He said he has had to call 911 and has seen seizures due to drugs.

Shepherd said feedback to the announced workshop has been "amazing."

"Bringing it out and talking about it gives everybody an understanding that we're not naive. We are not going to hide our heads in the sand to these events happening inside our bars."

The workshop, which starts at 6 p.m. at The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave., will include access to free Naloxonekits for establishments. Participants need to confirm their attendance.