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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

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      • Eating Well
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    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
      • Managing Stress
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
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    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 stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

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
      • Managing Stress
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    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 stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

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Wellbeing

Opioids

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  2. Substance Use
  3. Types of Substance Use
  4. Opioids

Substance use

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

Opioids are a class of drug that can be prescribed by a doctor or nurse practitioner but are also found in the street drug supply. Common opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, methadone and hydromorphone.

Opioids can produce euphoria. Some people use them for their ability to produce a “high” or feeling of relaxation. Others may use opioids to prevent them from feeling the effects of withdrawal or “dope sick” from drugs.

Opioid overdose

An opioid overdose happens when a person takes more opioids than their body can handle. Breathing may become irregular and slow, and a person may not respond to stimulation. If someone cannot breathe, or is not breathing enough, the oxygen levels in the blood decrease. This can lead to brain damage, cardiac arrest, and death.

The overdose crisis in B.C.

The overdose crisis in B.C. has been tragically ongoing since 2016. People are losing their loved ones every day from overdose – family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an alarming increase in overdose deaths that has affected every region of the province. Measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 have impacted access to harm reduction services and contributed to a street drug supply that has become increasingly dangerous and toxic.

Overdose prevention

If you or someone you know uses drugs, there are proven ways to stay safer and decrease the risk of overdose, like using drugs with a buddy, or carrying Naloxone.

Learn the signs of an opioid overdose – you could help to save a life. Visit StopOverdoseBC.ca to find out more about overdose response and prevention. 

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

Resources

Showing 5 Resources

Stop Overdose BC

Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions

The StopOverdoseBC campaign aims to reduce the stigma around addiction and provide information and resources to help people support their family and friends.<br /><br />Get the facts about common topics surrounding the overdose crisis in BC, learn how to support your loved ones, and find information about treatment and recovery options, naloxone, Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT), and overdose prevention.

Virtual
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Lifeguard App

Provincial Health Services Authority

Provides a free phone app that brings emergency responders to people who may be having an overdose on drugs while alone. Provided in partnership with regional health authorities and Lifeguard Digital Health.<br /><br />The app is activated by the user before they take their dose. If the user doesn't hit a button after a set amount of time, a text-to-voice call will go to 9-1-1, alerting emergency medical dispatchers of a possible overdose.

Virtual
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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.

In Person
Learn More

Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service

211 British Columbia Services Society

Provides a free, confidential phone service for people throughout BC needing help with any kind of substance use concern. Offers information and referral to education and prevention resources, support groups, and a full range of counselling and treatment services. Not a clinical service.

Telephone
Learn More

Lifeguard App

Provincial Health Services Authority

Provides a free phone app that brings emergency responders to people who may be having an overdose on drugs while alone. Provided in partnership with regional health authorities and Lifeguard Digital Health.<br /><br />The app is activated by the user before they take their dose. If the user doesn't hit a button after a set amount of time, a text-to-voice call will go to 9-1-1, alerting emergency medical dispatchers of a possible overdose.

Virtual
Learn More

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Emergency Contact Information

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

Crisis Line

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

Mental Health Support Line

310-6789 (no area code needed)

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Emergency Contacts

Crisis Line

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

Mental Health Support

310-6789