Peterborough Drug Strategy Shares Holiday Closures And Safety Tips To Prevent Opioid Poisonings

With the holiday season approaching, Peterborough Drug Strategy partners are reminding community members about the importance of overdose prevention and not using drugs alone.

It is not uncommon to see drug poisonings and other harms increase over the holidays. This time of year can be difficult for many people, and can trigger sadness, stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions. While people use drugs for many different reasons, this can lead to consuming more alcohol and other drugs in an effort to cope or manage these feelings.

Peterborough Drug Strategy suggests that individuals currently experiencing a mental health or substance use concern, or are working towards recovery, connecting with a trusted friend or family member and reaching out to them regularly may be helpful.

When using drugs, please remember these prevention tips:

• Don’t use drugs alone

• Use with a friend, but not at the same time

• If you are using alone, have a plan. Have someone check in with you or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677

• Carry naloxone, keep it visible and close by

• Avoid mixing drugs

• Test your drugs by using a small amount first

• Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated after naloxone is administered

Community members are encouraged to know the signs of opioid poisoning and how to respond. An opioid poisoning may look like the following:

• Skin is cold and clammy

• Fingernails or lips are blue or purple

• Body is very limp

• Can’t wake the person up

• Deep snoring or gurgling sounds

• Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped

• Pupils are very small

If you suspect an overdose, respond quickly by calling 911 right away. Give naloxone if available, and stay with the person until help arrives.

While a number of local community agencies will be closed between Friday at 12 p.m. to Jan. 4, 2022, naloxone, harm reduction supplies, and overdose response services are available from the following agencies:

Naloxone and emergency overdose response

• Peterborough County-City Paramedics. All paramedics carry naloxone for distribution. When attending a drug-related 911 call, paramedics can provide naloxone kits to the patient whether or not naloxone has already been administered.

Naloxone and other Harm Reduction Supplies

• One Roof - 99 Brock Street. Open Daily 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and again from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Note: If there is an extreme cold event guests can request harm reduction supplies during the extended hours drop-in from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and again from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

• FourCast – 200-130 Hunter Street W. Closed from Dec. 25 to 28 and on Jan. 1. Open Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Open all other days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• CMHA - 466 George Street N. Closed from Dec. 25 to 28 and on Jan. 1. Open Dec. 24 and December 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Open all other days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic - 360 George Street N. Closed from Dec. 25 to 28 and on Jan. 1 .Open Dec. 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Open Dec. 29 to 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Open Dec. 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• Mobile Support Overdose Resource Team (MSORT) Open Dec. 24 and 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information, call the MSORT mobile office at 705-760-0673.

• Elizabeth Fry Society - 150 King Street., 4th Floor. Closed from Dec. 25 to January 3. Open Dec. 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Elizabeth Fry’s peer support line will be available 24/7 for calling or texting throughout the holidays at 705-768-4334 for harm reduction supplies and naloxone.

• PARN. Closed from Dec. 24 at 12:00 p.m. to Jan. 4 at 9:30 a.m.

Addiction Treatment Services (Alcohol and Drug Use)

• Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic. Closed Dec. 27, reopens Jan. 3 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Crisis Response

• Four County Crisis. If you are in crisis, call 705-745-6484 or toll-free 1-866-995-9933. By phoning these numbers, you can access 24-hour, free, confidential crisis support.

• Telecare Distress Centre of Peterborough. Call 705-745-2273 for free, non-judgmental, and confidential crisis support available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

For more information about opioid-related harms data, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and search for “Opioids” or click here.

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