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 TrainingSelf-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)...
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CAPSA - Community Addictions Peer Support Association
CAPSA - Community Addictions Peer Support AssociationCAPSA 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...
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Wellness Together Canada
Wellness Together CanadaWellness Together Canada is a mental health and substance use website to support people across Canada and Canadians living abroad in both official languages. They provide the following resources for you at no cost:
- Immediate text support
- Informa...
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Mental Health 101
The Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthKnowledge 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...
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38 Program(s)
Access Wellness Nova Scotia
Access Wellness is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals, couples or families.
Sessions can be held over the phone, online with video, or in-person. People can speak with a qualified professional and learn...
Recovery Support Centre
The Recovery Support Centre is a welcoming space that provides education, recovery and harm reduction support, along with one on one support and group treatment for people struggling with substance use and/or gambling concerns.
An...
Sipekne’katik First Nation
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...
Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association of Nova Scotia (NADACA)
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...
IWK Mental Health and Addictions Program
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...
The Marguerite Centre
The Marguerite Centre provides a holistic, women-centred approach to recovery from substance misuse and gambling addiction. We are an inclusive, safe, non-judgmental...
Eskasoni Mental Health
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...
Direction 180
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.
Caregivers Nova Scotia
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.
Ally Centre of Cape Breton
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...
211
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.
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services - Mental Health Programs and Services
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...
Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service
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...
Take Home Naloxone Program
The program provides opioid overdose prevention/nalaxone administration training and free take home nalaxone kits to Nova Scotians. The aim is to prevent opioid overdoses and...
Families Matter in Mental Health
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...
Narcotics Anonymous
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...
Wellness Program
The Wellness Program is an ongoing, client-focused program that is based on what the client or group of clients want to work on that day. There is no waitlist or referral...
Outpatient Withdrawal Management
The Outpatient Withdrawal Management combines functions of an outpatient (day program) withdrawal management (detox) and structured treatment, providing the support of a team...
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.
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...
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.
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...
Mood Disorders Clinic
The mood disorders clinic provides consultations for individuals with severe mood disorders such as possible bipolar disorder. This is a specialized service that provides diagnosis and treatment of severe mood disorders.
First Responders Assist
This service will offer short-term counselling and supportive services, including follow up if needed, for first responders and their families impacted by the tragedies of...
Opioid Recovery Program (ORP)
The Opioid Recovery Program offers opioid maintenance therapy (methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone) and programming to individuals with an addiction to opioids. From a harm...
Inpatient Withdrawal Management Program
Inpatient withdrawal management service provides medication-assisted withdrawal management and recovery supports to individuals requiring inpatient treatment to manage withdrawal from alcohol and/other substances. These services are staffed by a...
Driving While Impaired (DWI) Program/Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program (AIIP)
If your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked for an alcohol or drug-related offence, you are required by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to attend the DWI Program in...
Adult Addictions Day Treatment Program
The Addictions Day Treatment Program is a two-week group program for individuals that require a more intensive and daily treatment option.
Individuals may benefit from this type of program if they recently left an inpatient treatment program (i.e...
School Mental Health (SchoolsPlus)
The school mental health clinicians provide individual and group therapy, mental health and addictions education for school staff and consultation services. Clinicians are on...
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...
Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line
The Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line provides crisis intervention for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis or mental distress.
...
Inpatient Mental Health Services
Inpatient mental health services are available for those who cannot be safely assessed, diagnosed and stabilized in the community.
First Nations Services
Mental Health clinicians work as part of the first nations health care team in several first nations communities. The Mental Health Clinician provides assessment, diagnosis...
Crossroads Clubhouse
Crossroads Cape Breton is community organized to support people living with mental illness in reclaiming and enhancing their lives. People are referred to as “members” because...
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...
Adult Community Mental Health and Addictions Services
Community Mental Health and Addictions includes a team of mental health and addictions professionals who provide services on an outpatient basis. The team provides assessment...
Child and Adolescent Services
Child and Adolescent Services/Child Youth and Family/Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinical Services provide mental health and addiction services to children and youth...
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...
