HARM REDUCTION
Harm reduction services are very close to my heart. There is no stigma here, just love, compassion and genuine concern for safety.
What you need to know about the opioid crisis
(Need stats on Kamloops OD's)
This video gives a very thorough explaination of North America's opioid crisis. It is scary, and it is real in Kamloops.
Fentanyl tablets are blended - in a magic bullet or the like - resulting in uneven distribution of the potent drug. It is put into substances as a cut, or sold entirely to individuals as heroin. If a user ends up with a rather large chunk of the magic-bullet blended fentanyl (commonly called hot spots), it can be fatal.
As a response to the opioid crisis in Canada, the drug Naloxone (sold under the brand name Narcan) has been made available for free at most pharmacies in Canada. Simply enter any pharmacy & request a kit after being educated on adminstering.
Learn how to administer life-saving Narcan during an overdose...
Art by @Stanzyart
Please do not hesitate to call 911 if you are witnessing an overdose. The Good Simaritan Act was created in response to the opioid crisis and it provides you with some legal protection in such a life-threatening situation.
Screenshot from BC Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions
Supervised Consumption Sites
It is highly recommended that you utilize our city's supervised consumption sites for overdose prevention.
Supervised consumption sites can be found at:
ASK Wellness, 433 Tranquille Road - Monday to Friday Monday to Friday 8:30am-12pm, 1pm to 4:30pm (250-376-7558)
Crossroads Inn, 569 Seymour Street - Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (250-374-5060)
Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Exchange Programs
You can find harm reduction supplies & needle exchange services at:
Crossroads Inn, 569 Seymour Street - Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (250-374-5060)
King Street Center, 126 King Street - Monday to Friday 8:30am-12pm, 1pm to 4:30pm (250-376-7855)
Kamloops Primary Care Clinic, 36-450 Lansdowne Street - Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (250-851-7954)
ASK Wellness, 433 Tranquille Road - Monday to Friday Monday to Friday 8:30am-12pm, 1pm to 4:30pm (250-376-7558)
It was recently announced that Ask Wellness on the North Shore is now providing free fentanyl test strips!
Offers health promotion services on an outreach basis to street-entrenched persons. Services include health care outreach, referrals, needle and condom distribution, immunization, and health education. Also offers pregnancy testing, and testing for HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections.
You can also access harm reduction supplies, along with harm reduction education and referrals to health services, addictions services, and other social supports. Needle services include distribution of clean needles, sterile water, and alcohol wipes; and health information to encourage safer injection practices. Provides safer drug use supplies such as mouthpieces and injection supplies. Also provides safer sex supplies, including condoms. Opioid users are provided with free Take Home Naloxone Kits (Narcan) that can be used to reverse the effects of overdoses from opioids like heroin, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl.
Kamloops Street Outreach Nurse
250-851-7388
Mustard Seed Outreach Centre
181 Victoria St W,
Kamloops, BC V2C 5L7
Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
Weekly Drop-In Clinic Tuesdays 10:00am-1:00pm
King Street Outreach Centre
Weekly Drop-In Clinic on Wednesdays 1:00pm-3:00pm
Check out Tripsit.me
This website is a valuable resource with science based information on substance interactions, dosages, and how to manage a bad trip. Volunteers are eager and willing to help guide or trip sit a user and are available 24/7 to chat live. They also have a free mobile app available. Click here for a useful drug interaction chart often used at music festivals.
"We are TripSit – Our number one goal is to provide positive support and encourage harm reduction by providing techniques, advice, and in some cases, helping users deal with possible negative psychological consequences of their actions and experiences."