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If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

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1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Call if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

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1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

Wellbeing

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    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
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    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
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      • How Families Can Support Youth
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    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

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  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
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    Drinking and Your Health

    Alcohol is a substance that can be enjoyed in moderation. However, the more you drink, the more your risk of certain diseases can go up. Find out how many drinks it takes to put you at risk, and how high or low those risks can be.

    Learn more
  • Browse supports

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    Woman outside looking off to the right

    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • COVID-19 Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    • Seeking Help
      • How Families Can Support Youth
    Image
    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    Two men standing and laughing by a brick wall

    Drinking and Your Health

    Alcohol is a substance that can be enjoyed in moderation. However, the more you drink, the more your risk of certain diseases can go up. Find out how many drinks it takes to put you at risk, and how high or low those risks can be.

    Learn more
  • Browse supports

Top Navigation

  • Our Partners
  • Contact
  • About Us

Help Phone Lines

If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Call if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

Wellbeing

Overdose Prevention

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  2. Substance Use
  3. Harm Reduction
  4. Overdose Prevention

Substance use

  • Types of Substance Use
    • Alcohol
    • Opioids
    • Stimulants
  • Addiction
    • Addiction and Health
    • Treatment and Recovery
  • Harm Reduction
    • Overdose Prevention
    • Naloxone
    • Drug Checking

A person can overdose from different kinds of substances, like opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and/or alcohol. Learn to recognize and respond to overdoses. This could save the life of someone you care about

An overdose happens when a toxic amount of a substance or combination of substances overwhelms the body. Overdoses can be unintentional or intentional. They affect people from every walk of life, their loved ones, and their friends.

Overdose is very dangerous and can cause permanent injury or death. Medical interventions, such as naloxone and calling 9-1-1 may be able to save someone from overdose death.

It is important to remember that overdoses are preventable, and there are many ways to stay safer if you or someone you know uses substances.

The signs of an overdose depend on the types of substances that have been taken. See the information below to learn to identify and respond to overdose:

  • Opioids 
  • Stimulants 
  • Alcohol 

Overdose prevention and supervised consumption services

Overdose prevention and supervised consumption services help prevent overdose-related events and deaths. These sites are helping people stay safer every day and are saving lives.

Overdose prevention and supervised consumption services (OPS/SCS) provide a safe space to use drugs under the supervision of trained workers. OPS/SCS also provide drug checking services, as well as emergency first aid services, such as oxygen or naloxone in the event of an overdose.

OPS/SCS are essential services and remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, with cleaning and safety protocols, as recommended by public health officials.

To help prevent overdose when using drugs, visit an overdose prevention site or supervised consumption site in your area:

  • Vancouver Coastal
  • Interior B.C.
  • Vancouver Island
  • Northern B.C.
  • Fraser

Search “overdose prevention site” or “supervised consumption site” on the Mental Health and Substance Use Services map to find services throughout B.C.

If you suspect an overdose, call 9-1-1 right away.

Resources

Showing 4 Resources

Lifeguard App

A free app that connects people to emergency responders automatically if they become unresponsive while using drugs. 

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Help hotlines
In crisis
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Person who uses drugs

Lifeguard App

Contact

Email
Website

About

A free app that connects people to emergency responders automatically if they become unresponsive while using drugs.

Description

Lifeguard App app gives people who use drugs one more way to stay safer. It empowers people who use drugs to take charge of their health and helps them to survive accidental overdose.

When someone is about to use a drug, especially alone, they can open the app and record the type of substance they are using and confirm their location. The app will hold this information, and a timer is set which can be paused or extended by the app user at any time. 

App users can access treatment options quickly and easily, directly through the app. This means that users can remain safer until they are ready to start their journey to recovery.

Download the app for free on your smartphone or tablet through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Help hotlines
In crisis
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports
Learn more
Learn More

Overdose Prevention Sites Listings (Toward the Heart)

Locations where people can safely use drugs under supervision of staff trained in emergency response. Services are free.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Help navigating services
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports

Overdose Prevention Sites Listings (Toward the Heart)

Contact

Website

About

Sites offer drug checking services, overdose prevention, education, naloxone kits and naloxone training.

Description

Some sites may also have harm reduction supplies like sterile needles, safe needle disposal, filters, cookers, condoms, etc. They can help refer you to more mental health and substance use services. 

Overdose prevention sites are managed by health authorities with community partners across B.C. These spaces work together with social services and healthcare.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Help navigating services
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports
Learn more
Learn More

Learn about Harm Reduction (Toward the Heart)

Resources and information to help you stay safer if you use drugs.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports

Learn about Harm Reduction (Toward the Heart)

Contact

Website

About

BC Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC)'s harm reduction information and resources.

Description

Towards the Heart focuses on sharing information about naloxone and fentanyl. The website hosts an Overdose Survival Guide, a Train the Trainer Guide for the naloxone administration, a video on How to Use Naloxone, and more. 

Other available features include a ‘Find a Harm Reduction Site’ tool search for where you can pick up a naloxone kit in your community. 

Have a question? Use the contact form.

Addiction and recovery
Drug use
Fraser Health
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Person who uses drugs
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports
Learn more
Learn More

Alcohol and Drug Information Referral Service

Free, confidential information and referral services to support you with any kind of substance use challenge.

Addiction and recovery
Alcohol
Drug use
Fraser Health
Help hotlines
Help navigating services
In crisis
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health

Alcohol and Drug Information Referral Service

Contact

1-800-663-1441

About

Call for a referral to community substance use treatment services.

Description

This service can help you learn about prevention resources, support groups, and other topics related to addiction and substance use. This includes referrals to detox and treatment programs.

Free, multilingual phone assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service is provided by 211 British Columbia Services Society.

Addiction and recovery
Alcohol
Drug use
Fraser Health
Help hotlines
Help navigating services
In crisis
Information and tools
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Person who uses drugs
Treatment services
Vancouver Coastal Health
Virtual supports
Learn more
Learn More

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Call 9-1-1 if you are in an emergency. For mental health support, call:

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

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310-6789 (no area code needed)

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Emergency Contacts

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1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental Health Support

310-6789