A new Canada-wide phone line aims to prevent deadly overdoses by connecting anyone who is alone and using drugs with peers, who can quickly call for help if needed.
The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) allows anyone in Canada using a potentially deadly substance to dial a toll-free number and have someone standing by to 9-1-1 for help, if they call to check in and don’t get a response.
The service is completely anonymous and the “peers” answering your call also use drugs, or used to use drugs, or have some other personal experience with drug use.
Some work as frontline workers, or have been personally impacted by overdose.
The people answering the phone are community members, not paid professionals, and they are here because they want to provide you with accepting, non-preaching, unconditional support.
The initiative comes at a time when overdose deaths are spiking across the province.
You can all the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-NORS (6677).
For more details, please click here.