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Opioids

What are opioids?

Opioids are drugs that are usually prescribed to treat severe pain. They’re psychoactive drugs, meaning they act in our brains to change our awareness of pain, as well as slow down our breathing, heart rate, thoughts, and actions. There are many different opioids, including morphine, heroin, hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and codeine (in products like Tylenol 3).

 

How they’re used

People use opioids for a variety of reasons. While they can be helpful for pain relief, some people use them for relief from anxiety or to experience a “high”. Others use prescription opioids (like methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone) to help reduce dependence on other opioids.

 

How they affect us

The effects of opioids can be different for different people. In the beginning, most people will feel relaxed, drowsy, and calm. But as use (and the risk of withdrawal) increases, people may feel unwell and experience anxiety and insomnia. Repeatedly using the drug to feel relaxed, reduce anxiety, or for reasons other than as prescribed may harm our health or relationships and lead to dependence.

 

The risks

Like all drugs, opioids have the potential to be harmful. Even a single use of an opioid by a person who’s never used one before can lead to serious harms like infections and diseases from sharing needles, overdose, or even death. 

Using prescription opioids for reasons other than the prescribed medical purpose can be dangerous. Buying and using drugs from unknown sources can also be dangerous. Opioids from sources other than a pharmacy or healthcare provider may not be legitimate pharmaceutical pills, even if they look like they are. These drugs are often impure and unpredictable in strength, making them very dangerous.   

Opioid use can also lead to dependence—that’s when a person is so used to the drug being in their body that when it’s taken away they experience severe withdrawal symptoms like uneasiness, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and craving for the drug. Tolerance can also develop with continued use of an opioid, which means that increasingly large doses are needed to get the same effects. This also puts the person at increased risk of overdose and death.

 

Lowering the risk

Always follow the dosage instructions—using a drug more often than prescribed can be dangerous, so watch how much you use. Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the effects of a prescribed opioid on physical and mental functioning. If you choose to use illegal drugs, start with a small amount whenever you get a new supply, clean your hands, drug using supplies and injection site, and never use while alone. Always have naloxone on hand whenever using—it can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and allow time for medical help to arrive.

 

Signs of an overdose

Signs of opioid overdose include:

  • The person can’t be woken up
  • Slow, irregular breathing
  • Slow or no pulse
  • Gurgling sounds or choking
  • Blue lips or nails
  • Pale, cool skin
  • Vomiting

 

If someone you know is showing signs of an opioid overdose, call 911 right away.

Visit http://www.nsnaloxone.com/ for more information on Naloxone and opioids.

 

When to seek help

Using opioids is a problem when it negatively affects your life or the lives of others. Speak with your healthcare provider if you feel your use of opioids has become a problem for you or others. 

The two main treatment options for opioid addiction are professional counselling and opioid agonist therapies (using methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone). The combination of both treatments is often used and is more beneficial than one method alone.

 

Tools

SMART Recovery - Self-Management And Recovery Training

SMART Recovery - Self-Management And Recovery Training
This tool is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Tool Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the tool provider.

Self-Management And Recovery Training (SMART) is a global community of mutual-support groups. At meetings, participants help one another resolve problems with any addiction (to drugs or alcohol or to activities such as gambling or over-eating)...

Visit SMART Recovery - Self-Management And Recovery Training

More Information:

Adults / Seniors

CAPSA - Community Addictions Peer Support Association

CAPSA - Community Addictions Peer Support Association
This tool is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Tool Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the tool provider.

CAPSA is a National leader on the topic of stigma, its impacts on individuals who use substances or have a substance use disorder and on identifying and correcting instances of systemic stigma imbedded in organizations. Employing subject matter...

Visit CAPSA - Community Addictions Peer Support Association

More Information:

Adults / Seniors

Mental Health 101

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
This tool is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Tool Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the tool provider.

Knowledge is power. This series of free online tutorials is a starting point for learning about mental health.​ You can come away with a greater understanding of the mental health concern you are interested in knowing more about. The tutorials can...

Visit Mental Health 101

More Information:

Adults / Seniors / Youth

34 Program(s)

The Bloom Program

The Bloom Program is a community pharmacy initiative designed to increase and improve mental health and addictions care for Nova Scotians.

Who is eligible to participate?

Anyone with a Nova Scotia Health Card who has:

  • One or more mental health...
Adults / Seniors

Access Wellness

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Access Wellness is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals (18 years and older), couples or families. 

Sessions can be held over the phone, online with video, or in-person. People can speak with a qualified professional...

Adults / Seniors

Sipekne’katik First Nation

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

The Sipekne’katik Health Centre has many programs available for its community to benefit from, including:

  • Adult primary health care services
  • Prenatal classes and services
  • Parent programming
  • Maternal child health services
  • Public health...
Adults / Seniors
First Nations, Indigenous

Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association of Nova Scotia (NADACA)

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

NADACA programming is designed to deal with all aspects of substance abuse, i.e. alcohol abuse, illicit drug abuse, prescription drug abuse and solvent abuse. Our mandate is to provide accredited certified indigenous addictions prevention, education...

Adults / Seniors
First Nations, Indigenous

IWK Mental Health and Addictions Program

IWK
This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

The IWK Mental Health and  Addictions Program provides specialized care throughout the province for children and youth up until their 19th birthday within a patient and family...

Children / Youth

The Marguerite Centre

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

The Marguerite Centre provides a holistic, women-centred approach to recovery from substance misuse and gambling addiction. We are an inclusive, safe, non-judgmental environment...

Adults

Eskasoni Mental Health

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Eskasoni Mental Health Services (EMHS) provides a wide range of services to the Mi’kmaq people of Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The Tui'kn Residential School Survivor Team...

Adults / Seniors / Youth
First Nations, Indigenous

Direction 180

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Direction 180 is a community-based, opioid treatment program located in the North End of Halifax, Nova Scotia. This non-profit organization has been running since 2001 as a program of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Center.

Adults / Seniors

Caregivers Nova Scotia

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Caregivers Nova Scotia provides free programs, services, information, and advocacy for family and friend caregivers. We are dedicated to providing recognition and practical assistance to friends and family giving care.

Adults / Seniors
Caregiver, Family

Ally Centre of Cape Breton

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

The Ally Centre of Cape Breton is dedicated to preventing the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in the community and supporting those who have been infected and/or affected by these...

Adults / Seniors / Youth

211

211
This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

211 is a free, confidential information and referral service that can connect you to thousands of programs and services offered by local community groups, nonprofits and government departments across Nova Scotia, 24/7.

Adults / Children / Seniors / Youth

Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services - Mental Health Programs and Services

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) is responsible for administering Non-Public Property (NPP) on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff and for delivering...

Adults / Seniors
Canadian Forces, RCMP

Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Veterans Affairs provide targeted services and benefits to improve well-being including support and services related to your physical and mental health and wellness.The VAC...

Adults / Seniors
Canadian Forces, RCMP

Families Matter in Mental Health

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Families Matter in Mental Health is an 11-week education and support program for family or friends who are providing practical and/or emotional support to someone who has a...

Adults
Caregiver, Family

Narcotics Anonymous

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of people for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one...

Adults / Seniors

Health Psychology

Health Psychology offers psychological interventions for those with chronic and acute health conditions. The main focus is on the patient's mental and emotional reaction to an illness or their recovery from an illness.

Adults

Wellness Court

Wellness Court Programs are specialty or problem-solving courts, where a team of professionals helps treat the issues contributing to the individual coming into conflict with the...

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Adults

Geriatric Psychiatry Acute Inpatient Unit

The Geriatric Psychiatry Acute Inpatient Unit is for individuals over the age of 65 with a new onset of mental illness or for individuals of any age with dementia and complicated medical and/or psychological symptoms.

Seniors

Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Program

Seniors mental health services provide assessment, consultation and treatments to:

  • seniors aged 65 and older for a new onset of mental health challenges
  • individuals of any...
Seniors

Driving While Impaired (DWI) Program/Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program (AIIP)

If your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked for a substance related offence, you are required by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to attend the DWI Program in order to...

Adults / Seniors

Nova Scotia Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinic

The Nova Scotia Operational Stress Injury Clinic (NSOSIC) belongs to a national network of OSI Clinics funded by Veterans Affairs Canada. The clinic provides mental health...

Adults / Seniors
Canadian Forces, RCMP

Inpatient Mental Health Services

Inpatient mental health services are available for those who cannot be safely assessed, diagnosed and stabilized in the community. 

Adults / Seniors

Crossroads Cape Breton

Located in Sydney, Crossroads Cape Breton offers a variety of outreach, housing and community supports. Through this program, people discover purpose, build skills and improve...

Adults / Seniors

Community Support Service (Adults)

The Community Support Teams for Adults/Community Supports for Adults supports individuals living with persistent mental illness to develop and maintain a safe, satisfying quality...

Adults / Seniors

Adolescent Outreach Services

Adolescent Outreach Services (AOS) is an expansion of the CaperBase model, which originated in Cape Breton. AOS focuses on providing:

  • Brief and Early Intervention
  • Screening
  • Outreach
  • Community Partnerships

The AOS model is set up for youth...

Children / Youth

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