St. John Ambulance are reminding the public of their free Opioid Poisoning Response Training Program, as drug-related deaths spike in the province.

The two-hour free-of-charge program teaches people how to properly administer life-saving drugs to combat a drug poisoning, as well as providing participants with a free nasal naloxone kit. The program is offered in-person or online for the month of August.

Training Coordinator Heather McCarthy says the program, also focusses on the stigma surrounding drug use.

She says they talk about harm reduction and de-stigmatization, including the change in language surrounding drug poisonings, known colloquially as overdoses.

McCarthy says while they have had steady interest in the program, recent events have increased demand.

She says there has been an increase in people inquiring about the program, so they have decided to offer it more frequently both online and in-person.