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Edmonton, along with many other jurisdictions around Canada, is experiencing a drug poisoning crisis. This is a complex public health issue with many factors that have led to a significant increase in drug poisonings (overdoses) and deaths in Edmonton. In recent years, there has been a higher level of concern associated with the drug supply, including its quality, the degree of contamination, potency, cost and accessibility.
Explore Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program
Overdoses happen in your neighbourhood. The street drug supply is contaminated with often unknown amounts of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil. Just a small amount can result in an unintentional overdose or poisoning.
When an overdose happens, it can be easy to panic and forget what to do. So keep these tips handy, read them often and tell your friends about them. Remembering them could save a life.
Learn the 6 Steps to Save a Life
How to Prevent a Fentanyl Overdose
Naloxone saves lives by temporarily reversing the effects of opioid poisoning.
| Organization | Contact |
|---|---|
| Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program | 1-844-383-7688 |
| AHS Opioid Dependency Program | 780-422-1302 Mobile Team: 780-342-7810 |
Drug poisonings are occurring in neighbourhoods all across our city, many in private homes where people are often using alone. Given the current state of the drug supply, using alone is especially dangerous. If you are using drugs alone:
Men experience the highest rates of opioid overdoses in Canada. Those in the trades are more impacted by substance use and addiction than other fields of work.
Visit Alberta Substance Use Analytics for the most recent data on
Don’t underestimate the loss your loved ones would feel if you were gone! Crystal Toronchuk lost her son Zachary, who worked in the trades, to drug poisoning. This is her story.
Free drop-in Single Session Counselling
For people who have witnessed drug poisoning.
Holding Hope Canada
Free peer-led support groups for those who have a loved one living with addiction.
Healing Hearts Canada
Free bereavement support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one to substance-use-related harms.
| Access 24/7: Alberta Health Services | 780-424-2424 |
| Mental Health Helpline | 1-877-303-2642 |
| 211 Alberta (information on community support services) | 211 |
| Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction | 1-833-235-4048 613-235-4048 |
| Drug Safe: Alberta Health Services | 1-866-332-2322 (Addiction Helpline) |
| Alberta Family Wellness Initiative | (403) 215-4490 |
Harm-reduction services and treatment support are available and can be lifesaving for those who are struggling with substance use.
Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinics
Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program
Supervised Consumption Services
WhysSCS
Streetworks
Residential Treatment (Edmonton)
The City of Edmonton and Alberta Health Services co-chair a committee of representatives from community, business, health, lived and living experience and experts.
Our mandate is to identify opportunities for collaborative community-based approaches to reduce the number of harms associated with substance use in Edmonton. We recognize the need to increase public messaging and awareness of the poisoned state of the drug supply, specifically to the population currently at highest risk - men, ages 30-40.
Alberta Health Services (co-chair)
City of Edmonton (co-chair)
AAWEAR
Boyle Street Community Services
Radius Community Health & Healing (formerly Boyle McCauley Health Centre)
Central McDougall
CHEW Project
EACH+EVERY: Businesses for Harm Reduction
Edmonton Chinese Young Leaders Council
Emergency Medical Services
Edmonton Police Services
Edmonton Public Library
George Spady Society
HIV Edmonton
McCauley Community
Moms Stop the Harm
North Edge Business Association
Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Society
REACH Edmonton
Royal Alexandra Hospital
University of Alberta
109/109A Neighbour Group
4B Harm Reduction Society