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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) or 9-8-8

​Call 1-800-784-2433 or dial 9-8-8 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.

Opioid Treatment Access Line

1-833-804-8111

Call for same-day opioid addiction support.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

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

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      • Eating Well
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    Youth Resilience

    Fostering resilience in the young people we care about is crucial for their overall wellbeing. By modelling resilience ourselves and by teaching it as a skill, we can help give young people the tools they need to meet challenges.

    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
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    Man looks out window pensively

    Anxiety, Stress, Depression. Understand the differences.

    Anxiety, depression, and stress are three common mental health concerns that can deeply impact our daily lives. But sometimes, when you’re not feeling well, it can be hard to figure out exactly why.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
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      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
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      • Respond to an Overdose
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
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    Opioid Treatment Access Line: phone number 1-833-804-8111

    Get same-day support

    The Opioid Treatment Access Line makes it faster and easier to access life-saving medication with same-day support.

    Learn more
  • Articles

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    young person talking to a group

    Youth Resilience

    Fostering resilience in the young people we care about is crucial for their overall wellbeing. By modelling resilience ourselves and by teaching it as a skill, we can help give young people the tools they need to meet challenges.

    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
      • Multi-Language Services in BC
    Image
    Man looks out window pensively

    Anxiety, Stress, Depression. Understand the differences.

    Anxiety, depression, and stress are three common mental health concerns that can deeply impact our daily lives. But sometimes, when you’re not feeling well, it can be hard to figure out exactly why.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Respond to an Overdose
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    Opioid Treatment Access Line: phone number 1-833-804-8111

    Get same-day support

    The Opioid Treatment Access Line makes it faster and easier to access life-saving medication with same-day support.

    Learn more
  • Articles

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HelpStartsHere

Stay Safer During the Toxic Drug Crisis

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  2. 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 5 Resources

Available B.C. wide

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.

Learn More
Available B.C. wide

BC Take Home Naloxone Program

BC Centre for Disease Control

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.

Learn More
Available B.C. wide

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.

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.

Learn More
Available B.C. wide

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.

Learn More
Available B.C. wide

Toxic Drug and Health Alerts

BC Centre for Disease Control

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.

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

Call 1-800-784-2433 or dial 9-8-8 if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide

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) or 9-8-8

Mental Health Support

310-6789