If someone overdoses:
- call 9-1-1 immediately
- provide rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth)
- administer naloxone
Reduce the risk of drug use:
- avoid using alone; fix with a friend
- try a small amount of new drugs first
- stagger use with friends so someone can respond if needed
- avoid using more than one drug at a time (stacking drugs increases risk of overdoses and contributes to more severe overdoses)
- carry and use naloxone and have an overdose response plan
- be close to help
- use an Overdose Prevention Service
This applies to all methods of drug consumption – injection, inhalation, snorting, smoking or consuming with alcohol.
Overdose Prevention and Supervised Consumption Services* are locations where people can use illegal drugs under supervision by trained staff. As part of healthcare services, staff in these locations monitor people who are at risk of overdose and provide rapid intervention if necessary.
Learn more about overdose prevention at towardtheheart.com
For more information on overdose awareness in B.C., visit stopoverdose.gov.bc.ca.
Places to go for safer drug use
Please see Overdose Prevention and Supervised Consumption Locations for a list of sites in your community.
Read the final report on the evaluation of overdose prevention sites in Campbell River, Courtenay, Cowichan Valley and Port Alberni.
Get Help
Find mental health and substance use health services
Get a Take Home Naloxone kit
How to respond to an overdose
Let's Talk: Speaking with Our Kids about Substance Use
Compassion in Action
Rapid Access Addiction Clinic
Needle Disposal
Safe Needle Disposal
Safe Needle Disposal Rack Card
Needle Disposal Sites - Cowichan Valley
Needle Disposal Sites - Nanaimo
Needle Disposal Sites - Victoria
Learn more about the safe disposal of needles.
Learn More
Overdose Statistics
Opioid Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategies
Overdose Awareness in BC
Be Drug Smart - HealthLinkBC
TowardTheHeart
Patients Helping Patients Understand Opioid Substitution Treatment
A Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorders
Overdose Prevention Services are allowed under special Ministerial Order (Ministerial Order M488) under the Emergency Services Act. Supervised Consumption Services are approved by Health Canada for exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Spread the Word
#StopOverdose
StopOverdoseBC.ca social media post suggestions - toolkit
People who use drugs are real people - poster
Social media image
Safer Festivals
Overdose awareness at festivals toolkit
Festival Poster - Tips for safer drug use
Festival Poster - Tips for safer drug use alternate
Safer Festivals - Facebook
Safer Festivals - Facebook alternate
Safer Festivals - Instagram
Safer Festivals - Instagram alternate
