Overdose Prevention Services

If someone overdoses:

• call 9-1-1 immediately
• provide rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth)
• administer naloxone 

How to respond to an overdose 

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. 

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.

Naloxone

Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of an overdose from opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl. It is available in BC without a prescription.

Learn more about naloxone. Take home a Naloxone kit.

Get Help

Call 1-888-494-3888 (24 hour crisis line)
Find mental health and substance use health services 
Crisis and emergency services
 

Learn More

Learn more about overdose prevention at towardtheheart.com    
For more information on overdose awareness in B.C., visit stopoverdose.gov.bc.ca .

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.