Opioids in Our Communities
What are Opioids?
Opioids, like fentanyl or morphine, are drugs that can be prescribed to treat pain. Some people use opioids to obtain a high.
For information about naloxone and opioid poisoning prevention, please see our Preventing Opioid Overdose Deaths page.
In our catchment area, we monitor and track trends in opioid-related issues in our communities. Visit our Opioid Dashboard to learn more about opioids in our catchment area.
What you can do
Community members
As a community member, you can:
- Receive naloxone training
- Carry Naloxone
- Spend time learning about topics like substance use/addiction and harm reduction from reliable sources
- Think about the language you use when talking about drug use and people who use drugs. Using terms like “person who uses substances/drugs” instead of “junkie” and “addict”
- Approach people and situations with compassion and openness
Service providers
As a service provider, you can:
- Receive training on Naloxone Administration
- Carry Naloxone
- Be mindful of the language used when talking about drug use and people who use drugs; use terms like “person who uses substances/drugs” instead of “junkie” and “addict”
- Schedule staff presentations on topics relating to harm reduction
- Consider registering your organization as a naloxone distribution site; contact us for more information
A person who uses substances
As a person who uses substances, I can:
• Access sterile equipment through harm reduction programs, and never share or reuse drug equipment
• Get trained to use Naloxone
• Carry Naloxone
• Don’t use alone and download the Lifeguard App
• Take part in campaigns/opportunities to destigmatize substance use
• Get familiar with local treatment and support programs
Someone impacted by substance use
As someone impacted by substance use, I can:
- Learn about local resources
- Carry Naloxone
- Get trained to use Naloxone
- Be open and supportive to help friends or family members living with addiction or substance use issues
- Take part in campaigns/opportunities to destigmatize substance use
Reducing stigma
Stigma is negative attitudes, beliefs or behaviours about or towards a group of people because of their situation in life. It includes discrimination, prejudice, judgment, and stereotypes, which can isolate people who use drugs.
The stigma around drug use is a barrier that prevents people who use drugs from accessing support and contributes to unsafe drug use. Needle distribution sites are sometimes the only contact people who use drugs have with community agencies. By helping keep people who use drugs healthy, we keep our community healthy and increase the likelihood of individuals seeking treatment and getting connected with community support such as housing or food.