Stay Safer During the Toxic Drug Crisis
Toxic drugs are the leading cause of death for people ages 19 to 39 in BC and the second leading cause of death in the province overall. These numbers are devastating and people from all walks of life are impacted. As BC continues to face this public health emergency, it is important to consider ways to stay safer if you use drugs.
Toxic drugs are circulating.
If you or someone you know uses drugs, it’s more important than ever to know the ways to stay safer.
Get a naloxone kit
Anyone can learn to use naloxone to reverse an overdose. Pick up a free naloxone kit at any of the hundreds of sites in BC. Find a site near you and always carry a kit with you. Take free naloxone training online.
Use with a friend or find an Overdose Prevention Site
Using drugs alone increases the risk of experiencing a fatal overdose. Overdose prevention sites can provide a space to use more safely. Find a site near you, use with a friend, or let someone know if you’re going to use so they can check on you.
Get your drugs tested.
Drug checking can provide life-saving information about what’s really in your drugs. Mixing substances is dangerous, but if you don’t know what you’re taking, it can be hard to avoid. Most supervised consumption sites also offer drug checking—look for one near you.
Download the Lifeguard App
The Lifeguard app can connect you to emergency responders automatically if you become unresponsive. Download for free through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Know the signs of an overdose and how to respond
If someone is not moving or hard to wake up; breathing slowly or not at all; has blue lips and nails; is making choking, gurgling or snoring sounds; or has cold or clammy skin and tiny pupils, they could be experiencing an overdose.
- Call 9-1-1 immediately if you think someone is experiencing an overdose.
- Learn more about how to identify and response to an overdose.
Know your rights
When you help someone having an overdose you have legal protection. Learn more about the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.
Until January 31, 2026, adults (ages 18+) in BC will be allowed to have small amounts of opioids, cocaine, meth and MDMA for personal use in private residences and at out-patient addiction clinics, overdose prevention sites and drug-testing locations. Learn more at gov.bc.ca/decriminalization.
Find help
- Call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information
- Find Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinics that are accepting new patients.
- Use the guided search or search field on this website to find services near you.
Together we can help save lives – share these tips with your family and friends.
These actions could help save your life or the life of someone you care about.
Resources
Showing 7 Resources
Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service
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.
Opioid Treatment Access Line
Provides confidential and same-day access to opioid agonist treatment medication for people throughout BC with opioid use disorder to prevent withdrawals, reduce cravings and the risk of overdoses.
People can call the access line to speak with a doctor or nurse over the phone who can prescribe the medication and offer connections to supports in the community.
Drug Checking Sites (BCCSU)
The drug supply in B.C. is extremely toxic. Use free drug checking services at supervised consumption and overdose prevention sites.
BC Take Home Naloxone Program
Provides an online listing of Take Home Naloxone sites in BC. Naloxone kits are available, at no cost, for people who use opioids and people who are likely to witness and respond to an overdose. Toward the Heart also provides naloxone and harm reduction information and resources.
Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of an overdose from opioids such as heroin, methadone, fentanyl, and morphine. See website to locate a Take Home Naloxone site near you.
Lifeguard App
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.
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.
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.
Toxic Drug and Health Alerts
Provides a free, real-time text messaging service for anyone to receive toxic drug alerts or share information about toxic drugs in their community. This service is anonymous. People can get other information by text message, like where to find naloxone or how to get drugs tested.
Provided in partnership with the BC Health Authorities and community partners. Text the word JOIN to 253787 to get drug alerts in your region.