Help stop opioid overdoses
Opioids are drugs that include prescribed pain relievers and illegal heroin and fentanyl. Misuse may lead to addiction, overdose and death.
Information and services
About opiods
Opioids, their side effects, risks and how you can prevent abuse or get help.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a powerful prescription painkiller about 100 X more powerful than morphine.
Opioid overdose
Opioid overdose risks and signs, and how to respond to an overdose situation.
Talking about drugs
How to talk to your teen about drugs, risks of using drugs, driving under the influence and reasons to say no.
Naloxone
How to use naloxone to treat an opioid overdose and where to obtain a naloxone kit.
Supervised consumption sites
The status of applications for supervised consumption sites.
Select an icon to see what the Government of Canada is doing to address the opioid crisis.
Drug prevention campaign
2015-2017
How we are informing Canadians about drug prevention through community-based interventions and awareness materials.
New federal Opioid Action Plan
Access to heroin via Special Access Programme
September 2016
How to get access to heroin for serious and life-threatening health conditions when necessary through the Health Canada's Special Access Programme.
Approval of naloxone nasal spray
October 2016
We have authorized the use of naloxone nasal spray without a prescription. Naloxone can save lives by temporarily reversing the effects of opioid overdose.
Fentanyl precursors controlled under CDSA
November 2016
Our changes to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) that include the addition of 6 chemicals used to make fentanyl, a life-threatening opioid.
Opioids Conference and Summit
November 18 to 19, 2016
As a result of the Opioid conference, we created our Joint Statement of Action that presents our commitments to address the opioid crisis.
Updated Drug Strategy for Canada
December 12, 2016
Our complete, compassionate and evidence-based drug strategy that includes information on prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement.
Bill C-37
December 12, 2016
Bill C-37 changes the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act to support our Opioid Action Plan. These changes allow exemptions for supervised consumption sites and let border officers open mail that may contain banned goods. They also ban the equipment used to make street drugs.
Join the conversation
Healthy Canadians
If you answered that they are all at risk, you're right. The opioid/fentanyl crisis is claiming victims of all ages, walks of life and in all regions of Canada. Whether you use opioids often to get high, or take cocaine or ecstacy a few times a year, or whether you are prescribed opioids, any of these situations could potentially lead to an accidental overdose and possibly death.
Learn how to identify an overdose, and how to help.
Together we can all #StopOverdoses.
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Healthy Canadians
What can your teen achieve if they say no to drugs? The possibilities are endless. Learn how to start the conversation with them. Have it early, and have it often.
http://ow.ly/lu6T30a78EE
Please note this is a video. -
Healthy Canadians
Understand the risks if you or a loved one are prescribed opioids. Speak to your doctor, and always take prescription opioids as directed to help avoid overdoses.
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Healthy Canadians
Have you started the drug talk with your teen? It can be a difficult topic to bring up, but it's important to open the lines of communication. Do you have tips for other parents to start the conversation?
Learn more about why it's so important to start the conversation early: http://ow.ly/x8Yo309W68n
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Healthy Canadians
Kristina is a nurse who specializes in addiction treatment. She sees first-hand how opioids are an issue with high school kids. Listen to her story and talk with your teen about #drugs.
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Healthy Canadians
Ice, Special K, Molly, Mary Jane… Do you know street names for the drugs your kids might be exposed to? Get familiar with the lingo and talk about drugs regularly with your kids: http://ow.ly/VwYI309RuKw.
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Healthy Canadians
Do you have questions about what you're taking? Don't be shy—ask your pharmacist. Learn more: http://ow.ly/rzoT309G50m.
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Healthy Canadians
Get the facts before talking with your teen about drugs. http://ow.ly/5oWM309ItIs
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Healthy Canadians
There is no shame in carrying a naloxone kit. If you think you may encounter someone who is overdosing, be prepared and see if you can get a kit at your local pharmacy and/or local health unit.
Naloxone kits are available free of charge at some pharmacies or public health units, no questions asked. Together we can #StopOverdoses. Learn the signs of an overdose and what to do to help:
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Healthy Canadians
"I won't let my son die, doing what he's doing." The impact of addiction on families can be devastating. Watch Samuel's story to see how his family's support helped him turn his life around.
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Healthy Canadians
There isn't a script for talking with your teen about drugs. It's important to begin the conversation with them early, and to keep talking. Get tips on how to start the drug talk: http://ow.ly/YJdM309yJlq
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Healthy Canadians
Not only street drugs are dangerous. If misused, prescription opioids can lead to addiction and overdose.
Many teenagers report thinking that using prescription drugs to get high is not as risky as doing other types of drugs. Learn more about the risks of opioid misuse and get tips to talk with your teens: http://ow.ly/TgBA309tuxe
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Healthy Canadians
Parents are important role models and can be an important defense against drug use. Don't know how to start the talk? Get some tips: http://ow.ly/YsKK309yuO
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Healthy Canadians
Prescribed opioids? Painkillers have both benefits and risks. Speak with your doctor; make a plan to ensure you're taking them appropriately and safely.
Using your prescription painkillers as directed can help prevent overdose. Learn more: http://ow.ly/wwE7309thfP
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Healthy Canadians
Think you, your friends or loved ones are not at risk of overdose because you only use party drugs once in a blue moon?.
Unfortunately, that's not the case. Over the last year, many street drugs, including counterfeit prescription drugs, have tested positive for fentanyl across Canada. People of all ages and walks of life are suffering overdoses due to fentanyl.
Learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose and carry a naloxone kit. Together we can #StopOverdoses. http://ow.ly/tQOR309jZRQ
Video Gallery
Substances that can be abused, like alcohol and controlled, illegal and prescription drugs.
Resources for hands-on help, advice and to answer your questions.
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