Opioids and Naloxone Programs

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 

Opioid overdose/poisoning can be fatal. Individuals who use opioids are at risk to overdose and the possibility of developing addiction. Depending on how opioids are used, there’s a risk of getting diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV. To reduce these risks, it's important to use Harm Reduction Supplies and participating in Naloxone Training.

For a better understanding of opioid-related health challenges and mortality rates in our area check our are check our Substance Overdose Profile Dashboard. 

The province is ensuring that Ontarians receive the care they need, when and where they need it. This includes the supports needed to help their addiction struggles.

ConnexOntario offers free and confidential health services for people who are having  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, where individuals 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
• email

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.

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

• 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

• • Try to avoid mixing drugs, alcohol or other prescribed medications. Speak to a health care provider 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.

Canadian youth are being exposed to drugs and illegal substances at a growing rate. This can have a severe impact on individuals and families. 

It is important to know how substance use can affect youth, families, and communities.

To help keep children safe, parents and educators are encouraged to learn the facts about:

• Prescription drugs
• Street drugs

 other substances such as:

·       cold medications

·       inhalants 

·       steroids.

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: 

• YMCA Youth Opioids Awareness Program 
• John Howard Society 
• Fourcast Addiction Services 

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. 

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 have injectable and nasal spray naloxone kits for 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.

For group in-person naloxone training please call 1-844-575-4567 or email harmreduction@lakelandsph.ca.

Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid poisoning/overdose. This can give medical help time to arrive. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids. 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 medication. 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.

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.

Naloxone kits can be picked up from any Lakelands Public Health 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 Naloxone 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 nasal spray 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 June 1st, 2023, some employers will be required to provide naloxone in the workplace. Check the Occupational Health and Safety Act to see if this applies to you or naloxone in the workplace for more information.

Click here if you are: 

• Looking to place an order for Naloxone
• Looking to becoming a partner
• Programs we offer