Opioids
Opioids are medications that relieve pain. When used properly, they can help. But problematic use can cause dependence, overdose and death.
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Services and information
About opioids
Opioids, short- and long-term effects, problematic opioid use, substance use disorder, overdose.
Opioid overdose
Opioid overdose risks and signs, and how to respond to an overdose situation.
Naloxone
How to use naloxone to treat an opioid overdose and where to obtain a naloxone kit.
Stigma
Stereotyping, prejudice, judging, social stigma, internalizing, ending stigma, barriers.
Responding to Canada’s opioid crisis
Federal action on opioids, harm reduction, prevention, treatment, enforcement, public health emergency response.
Opioids data, surveillance and research
Data, surveillance and research to help inform the government about opioid drug use and impacts.
About the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act
About the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act
Fentanyl
Fentanyl facts, nicknames, overdose signs and symptoms, tips for speaking with youth.
Talking to your healthcare provider about opioids
About opioid medications, their risks, and topics to discuss with your healthcare provider.
What we are doing
Government actions
- The governments of Canada and British Columbia are providing more than $71.7 million in innovative treatment options for people with substance use disorders
- Strengthening Canada’s approach to substance use issues
- Opioid Symposium—taking stock and moving forward
- Opioid Symposium 2018
- The governments of Canada and New Brunswick invest more than $7 million in innovative treatment options for people who engage in problematic substance use
- The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador sign a bilateral agreement to fund innovative treatment options for problematic substance use
- Drug Use During Festival Season
- Health Canada reminds Canadians of the limitations of fentanyl test strips being used to check street drugs before consumption
- Minister of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor announces intent to severely restrict marketing of opioids
- Statement from the Co-Chairs of the Special Advisory Committee on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses and the Canadian Institute for Health Information on Updates to Data Related to the Opioid Crisis
- Notice of Intent to Restrict the Marketing and Advertising of Opioids
Publications
- National report: Apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada (released September 2018)
- National report: Apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada (released June 2018)
- Pan-Canadian Trends in the Prescribing of Opioids and Benzodiazepines, 2012-2017
- Assessment of the Impact of the Ontario Fentanyl Patch-for-Patch Return Program
- National report: Apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada (released March 2018)
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