For Family and Friends of People Who Use Drugs
1. Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is an approach that aims to minimize the negative impacts of drug use through education, supplies, and supports to people who use drugs, reducing the spread of blood-borne infections and other health-related harms such as HIV and hepatitis C.
People who are stigmatized will hide their drug use and use their drugs alone, which can put them at higher risk of overdose death. As a result, it is important to build trust between individuals, and service providers. Harm reduction programs are key in connecting individuals to important harm reduction supplies and services, but also to primary health, mental health and addictions, as well as various social services and education. Keeping people connected with others reduces their risk of death.
2. How to Talk to Your Child (of any age) About Substance Abuse
Talking to your children can be difficult, but parents have the biggest influence in their children's lives. How a parent uses alcohol/drugs can influence their children's decisions about substance use.
Learn more on the Talk to Your Children section of the website.
Other resources:
3. Get a Take Home Naloxone Kit
Naloxone reverses the effects of an opioid overdose temporarily, restoring breathing in a few minutes and buying time for EMS to arrive. Saskatchewan residents who are at risk of an opioid overdose and/or might witness an opioid overdose, such as friends and family of people who use opioids, are eligible for free training and a free Take Home Naloxone kit. The training covers overdose prevention, recognition, and response, including how to administer naloxone.
Learn more about the Take Home Naloxone program and where to get a kit and training.