Awareness resources for opioids

Opioid education resources including videos, factsheets, posters and more.

Opioid awareness videos
Title Description
End stigma campaign Stigma matters because it can prevent people who use drugs from getting help. People who are stigmatised often feel ashamed, alone and judged. Together we can help end stigma.
Opioid Awareness Campaign Opioids prescribed for pain, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, can lead to overdose and death if used improperly.
Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act Stay until help arrives. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act can protect you.
Ease the Burden Substance use and addiction impact men in trades more than in other industries. Around 3/4 of opioid-related deaths in Canada are men. 30% to 50% of those employed worked in trades. It takes strength to ask for help.
Opioid fact sheets
Title Description
Opioids: What Are They? This fact sheet provides information on what opioids are, the difference between legal and illegal opioids and what you should do if you are prescribed an opioid.
Opioid Overdoses: What To Do This fact sheet explains how opioids can cause an overdose and how to protect yourself from one. It also provides information on what to do if you witness or suspect an overdose (call, stay and help).
Naloxone: Save a Life This fact sheet provides information on naloxone and how it can save a life during an opioid overdose.
High-Risk Opioid Use This fact sheet provides information on high-risk opioid use and how to get help.
Stigma: Why Words Matter This fact sheet provides information on stigma, why our words matter and how stigma can affect people who use opioids.
Talking to Your Health Care Provider About Opioids This fact sheet provides information that can help when talking to a health care provider about opioids.
Overdose prevention and stigma
Title Description
How to give Naloxone Nasal Spray for opioid overdoses

Learn how to administer naloxone nasal spray in a few simple steps.

This video was produced by the Canadian Pharmacists Association in partnership with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. The video is meant to be shared with patients as an extra tool for preventing overdose deaths.

Naloxone made easy (Injection Delivery) Learn how to administer a naloxone injection in a few simple steps.

This video was produced by the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in partnership with the Canadian Pharmacists Association to educate patients, their friends and family on the steps for giving a naloxone injection. The video is meant to be shared with patients as an extra tool for preventing overdose deaths.
Opioid overdose: Wallet card This wallet card can be printed or ordered. It can increase awareness of the symptoms of an opioid overdose, the steps to take to save a life, and protections provided by the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.
Opioid overdose: poster This poster can be printed and displayed at public events or within the community. It can increase awareness of the symptoms of an opioid overdose and the steps to take to save a life.
Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act: poster This poster can be printed on letter sized paper or scaled to print larger. It tells Canadians what to do in the case of an opioid overdose and where to get information on the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.
Know More: Suspect an overdose? This mirror cling features the signs of an opioid overdose and information on Canada's Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.
Know More: It can happen to anyone This poster can help educate youth about the dangers of substance use.
Know More: Your first time could be your last time This poster is intended to increase awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and opioid overdoses.
Know More: There's power in numbers This poster features the signs of an opioid overdose and information on Canada's Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.
End stigma: Poster This poster can be ordered or printed. It can be displayed at public events or within the community to broaden awareness and help reduce stigma.
End stigma (friend): Poster This poster can be ordered or printed. It can be displayed at public events or within the community to help broaden awareness and reduce stigma.
End stigma (parent): Poster This poster can be ordered or printed. It can be displayed at public events or within the community to broaden awareness and help reduce stigma.
End stigma (wife): Poster This poster can be ordered or printed. It can be displayed at public events or within the community to help broaden awareness and reduce stigma.
Substance Use Spectrum Substance use is different for everyone and can be viewed on a spectrum with varying stages of benefits and harms. A person may move back and forth between the stages over time.
Real Stories
Title Description
Meagan's Story Hear Meagan's story about how her prescription drug use quickly turned into high-risk substance use. Also find out how she got treatment.
Tom's Story Discover Tom's story about his dependence on painkillers, how it took over his life and how treatment helped.
Jordan's Story Listen to Jordan's story and how his dependence on pain medication led to tragedy.
Karlee's Story Listen to Karlee's story about her prescription drug use, its negative effects on her life and how she recovered.
Etienne's Story Listen to Étienne's story about how his prescription drug use took over his life, and how therapy helped him recover.
Marie-Louise's Story Listen to Marie-Louise's story about how one pill to help her sleep led to 6 years of prescription drug use, and even jail. Also find out how she got help and recovered.
Kristina's Story Discover Kristina's story. She is a registered practical nurse who specializes in drug treatment. Every day she sees people suffering from the effects of high-risk opioid use. She wants anyone struggling with substance use to know that there are options, and there are really good people out there to help.
Samuel's Story Hear Samuel's story about his substance use, especially opioids, the negative effects it had on his health and life in general, and how he recovered.
In Plain Sight In Plain Sight is a Health Canada audio series that explores the personal stories of people affected by the opioid crisis.
Data and surveillance
Title Description
Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada Access the most recent data on apparent opioid and stimulant toxicity deaths; Opioid- and stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations; and Emergency Medical Services responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses.
Health Canada's Drug Analysis Service Laboratories Health Canada's Drug Analysis Service Labs analyze illegal drugs seized by law enforcement agencies.
Government of Canada actions
Title Description

Federal actions on the overdose crisis

This overview identifies the actions taken by the Government of Canada since early 2016 to address the overdose crisis. It also provides a national picture of the public health impact of opioids in Canada.
Making urgently needed drugs available This poster outlines our public health response to the opioid overdose crisis.

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