Sport is a great way to have fun with friends and enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle. In an effort to support Health Canada’s efforts to spread the word about the opioid crisis in Canada and ensure a safe environment within which to practice sport, Sport Canada is asking that you share the following information with your sport-related networks.
Opioids are medications that can help relieve pain, but when misused, they can cause addiction, overdose and death. The opioid crisis has brought to light the devastating effects opioids are having on individuals, families and communities across Canada. It is estimated that there were 10,300 opioid-related deaths in Canada between January 2016 and June 2018.
The following opioid awareness resources are available for free from Health Canada.
- Opioid overdose wallet card: Includes information on how to spot and react to an opioid overdose.
- Opioid overdose awareness poster: Helps increase awareness of the symptoms of an opioid overdose and the steps to take to save a life.
- Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act poster: The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection for people who experience or witness an overdose and call 9-1-1 for help.
- Social Media: Share the messages on social media. Reach your audience with important information about opioids, signs of an overdose and how they can save a life. Use the hashtag #stopoverdoses to contribute to the important conversation that is happening online. To continue to help amplify the message, Health Canada has developed shareables for social media.