Common types of opioids include:
- Fentanyl
- Morphine
- Codeine (found in Tylenol 2, Tylenol 3, Tylenol 4)
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- Percodan (Percocet)
- Methadone
Opioids and Naloxone Programs
Lakelands Public Health is taking a proactive stance in the battle against opioid crisis. Offering education, prevention strategies, and access to life-saving naloxone kits to individuals. Lakelands Public Health fosters awareness and provides support to drive positive change as we work together to combat the opioid epidemic and promote a healthier, safer community for all.
If you think an overdose/drug poisoning has occurred:
- Call 9-1-1 immediately
- Administer Naloxone, if available
Opioids
Opioids are a family of drugs (whether purchased legally or illegally) that have pain relieving effects. Opioids slow down basic functions in the body like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, and can sometimes produce a “high” or euphoria which can make them addictive.
Opioid overdose/poisoning has the potential to be fatal. Individuals who use opioids are at risk to overdose and the possibility of developing addiction. Depending on usage methods, there's also a risk of contracting diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV. To minimize these risks, consider utilizing Harm Reduction Supplies and participating in Naloxone Training.
Prescription drug use can also lead to addiction and other health risks.
For a deeper understanding of opioid-related health challenges and mortality rates in our area click here
The province is ensuring that Ontarians receive the care they need, when and where they need it, including the supports necessary to address their addiction struggles and live fulfilling lives.
ConnexOntario provides free and confidential health services for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness or gambling by connecting them with services in their community that best match their treatment needs. These include outpatient day/evening programs and bed-based support, which requires individuals to live in residence at treatment centres. You can connect with someone for information and referral to services in your community 24 hours a day, seven days a week by:
- phone: toll-free at 1-866-531-2600
- live online chat
On the ConnexOntario website you can find locations and hours for some of these services and information on:
- Rapid Access Addiction Medicine clinics
- no appointment or referral is needed to get help, including prescriptions for opioid agonist therapies (such as suboxone or methadone) and counselling referrals if you don’t have a primary care provider
Speak to your doctor, nurse practitioner, other health care provider, or our harm reduction program about connecting you to the right supports.
If chronic pain plays a role in your opioid use, you may be a candidate for a referral to one of Ontario’s 18 chronic pain clinics. Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner to see if this would be a good option for you.
If you need help finding a doctor, nurse practitioner or other health care provider, visit Health811 online or call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse available 24 hours a day to help with any non-emergency health matter and find local services in your area.
Prevent an Opioid Overdose/Poisoning
If You Use Drugs
- Test a small amount of any drug before using.
- Avoid mixing drugs.
- Never use alone.
- If you are alone, contact the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) virtual safe consumption at 1-888-668-NORS (6677), or use the buddy system and call a friend.
- Call 9-1-1 in the event of an overdose/poisoning. Recognize signs of an overdose.
- Keep a naloxone kit on hand. You can get a naloxone kit at many pharmacies and local needle exchange sites. List of naloxone supply locations in Ontario.
Get Help with Quitting
- Find a program in your area that provides an outpatient or inpatient treatment option that matches your needs.
Get Help with Harm Reduction
- Visit Peterborough's Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site (or other CTSs), for supervised drug consumption and drug poisoning prevention services.
- Use our Needle Exchange and Harm Reduction Program or the Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program.
Carry Naloxone
- Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. If using opioids, it is important to know:
- how to recognize an opioid overdose
- how to use a naloxone kit
- where to get a free naloxone kit
It is also important to know that even if you reverse an opioid overdose using naloxone, you should still call 911 for emergency help. A person can overdose again when the naloxone wears off, even if they haven’t used more drugs, because the drug may still be in their body.
Avoid Mixing
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- Try to avoid mixing drugs, alcohol or other prescribed medications. Speak to a health care provider, your local Public Health Unit or harm reduction program first to confirm if it’s safe to do so.
Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides legal protection for people who experience or witness an overdose and call 911. Learn what is and isn’t protected on the Government of Canada Website.
Talking to Your Teen About Opioids
Canada is experiencing an opioid crisis, and youth are being exposed to drugs and illegal substances at a growing rate. This can have a devastating impact on individuals and families.
It is important to know how substance use can impact youth, families, and communities. Parents and educators are encouraged to learn the facts about prescription drugs, street drugs and other substances such as cold medications, inhalants, and steroids to help keep children safe.
See Drug Free Kids Canada Guide for more information.
If you know a youth who is struggling here are local support agencies that can help:
24/7 Telephone Support:
- Kid’s Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 or Text 686868 for free, confidential support to young people from a professional counsellor or trained, volunteer crisis responder.
Need Harm Reduction Supplies?
Re-using supplies can increase the risk of illness and infections. Be safe and pick up what you need ahead of time.
Submit Drug Poisoning Information
Anonymously share information about drug poisonings/overdoses in your community.
Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid poisoning/overdose and allow time for medical help to arrive. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. This means it blocks the effects of opioids, such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone and hydrocodone. It can restore normal breathing to a person whose breathing has shallowed or stopped because of an overdose.
Naloxone is available for free through pharmacies, community organizations and Public Health Units.
Naloxone is a safe drug. Giving naloxone to a person that is unconscious for any reason other than an opioid poisoning is unlikely to cause harm. Naloxone will not reverse drug poisonings that are caused by non-opioid drugs (e.g., caused by alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, xylazine, etc.).
If you or someone you know uses opioids or other street drugs, it is a good idea to have a naloxone kit.
Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP): Needle Exchange Programs, Hepatitis C Programs, Consumption and Treatment Services and participating community-based organizations distribute injectable and nasal spray naloxone kits to individuals at risk of opioid overdose and their friends and family.
Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies: Participating Ontario pharmacies distribute injectable and nasal spray naloxone kits to individuals at risk of opioid overdose, their family and friends, and people in a position to care for at risk individuals.
Naloxone in the workplace: Find out if you are required to have a naloxone kit at your workplace, get a kit for free and training on how to use it.
Need more information check out the video below!
Naloxone kits can be picked up from any Lakelands Public Health office. Nasal kits are available at the Haliburton, Lindsay, and Port Hope offices. Nasal kits and injectable kits are available at the Peterborough office. Below is a description of the Naloxone kit contents.
Nasal Spray Kits
Each nasal spray naloxone kit includes:
- 1 hard case (for example, a zippered hard black case with red “naloxone” cross)
- 2 doses of naloxone hydrochloride intra-nasal spray (4 mg/0.1ml)
- 1 rescue breathing barrier
- 1 pair of non-latex gloves
- 1 card that identifies the person who is trained to give the naloxone
- 1 insert with instructions (English and French)
Injectable Kits
Each injectable naloxone kit includes:
- 1 hard case (for example, a zippered hard black case with red “naloxone” cross)
- 2 (0.4 mg/1 mL) vials or ampoules (a small glass container) of naloxone
- 2 safety-engineered syringes with 25g, 1” needles attached
- 2 alcohol swabs
- 2 devices (known as “breakers,” “snappers,” or “openers” for opening ampoules safely)
- 1 rescue breathing barrier
- 1 pair of non-latex gloves
- 1 card that identifies the person who is trained to give the naloxone
- 1 insert with instructions (English and French)
Individuals
Individuals at risk of opioid overdose and their friends and family can access naloxone kits from community-based organizations. You do not need a prescription or an Ontario health card to get free Naloxone kits from participating:
- needle exchange programs
- hepatitis C programs
- public health units
- First Nations Health Access Centres
- AIDS service organizations
- community health centres
- outreach programs
- withdrawal management programs
- shelters
- hospitals with an emergency department or urgent care centre
Program staff will train you on how to recognize an opioid poisoning and how to use a naloxone kit.
You can pick up naloxone kits from any Lakelands Public Health office location Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Holidays hours may be different, please call ahead 1-866-888-4577, location information click here.
Individuals can also pick up kits from Pharmacies. NOT all pharmacies carry naloxone kits. Search the map of pharmacies and community organizations that shows where you can get naloxone kits and training on how to use them.
You do not need a prescription or an Ontario health card to get a naloxone kit.
Find more information on free naloxone kits for individuals.
Businesses
Starting December 2022, Ontario’s Workplace Naloxone Program is providing support to employers who are required to comply with the naloxone requirements in the Occupational Health and Safety Act by providing free naloxone training for up to two workers per workplace and/or one free nasal spray naloxone kit per workplace.
For group in-person naloxone training please contact PARN (Peterborough AIDS Resource Network) or the John Howard Society.
If your agency is located in Peterborough and is interested in naloxone training, please complete this form.
Workplace Naloxone Training
Starting December 2022, Ontario’s Workplace Naloxone Program is providing support to employers who are required to comply with the naloxone requirements in the Occupational Health and Safety Act by providing free naloxone training for up to two workers per workplace and/or one free nasal spray naloxone kit per workplace.
Find more information on free naloxone kits for businesses. Lakelands Public Health does not supply naloxone kits to businesses.
Employers can visit the following participating program providers for more information on how to access free naloxone training and kits:
Need more information about Opioids and Training available check out the video below!
Where to go for Partner Information
Click here if you are:
- Looking to place an order for Naloxone
- Looking to becoming a partner
- Programs we offer
Take Care of Your Naloxone
Naloxone has an expiry date. The expiry date is written on the ampoules or vials (for injectable naloxone), on the nasal spray device, or on the sticker on the back of your kit. Keep your kit in a cool, dry place. Avoid extreme heat or cold if possible. For example, keeping naloxone on you is better than storing it in your vehicle’s glove compartment.
If you have expired naloxone, get a new kit. You should return any unused or expired naloxone kits to your nearest pharmacy.
Need for more information?
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