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Alcohol & Other Drugs

If you choose to drink alcohol, Renfrew County and District Health Unit recommends following Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health.

Rethink your drinking: An awareness campaign that encourages moderation or low-risk drinking to support healthy lifestyle choices and reduce short and long-term risks associated with alcohol consumption.

App Link: Saying When  – A free mobile app to help people reduce or quit drinking

For parents

Parents are a key influence in the lives of their teenagers, including their choices about alcohol use.

Strategies for parents to prevent underage drinking

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, was legalized on October 17, 2018. Regular cannabis use impairs thinking, attention and memory. Early and regular cannabis use can have an impact on the developing brain.

Link to RCDHU Cannabis Q&A: https://www.rcdhu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Cannabis-Fact-Sheet-Final-2.pdf

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) Resources: Cannabis Resources

Cancer Care Ontario: Cannabis and Cancer Fact Sheet (March, 2020)

RCDHU Cannabis Infographic:  Using Cannabis can Cause / (Français) Consommer du cannabis peut causer

RCDHU Cannabis Infographic:  Cannabis Impacts Driving / (Français) Le cannabis sur la route

RCDHU Cannabis Infographic:  Cannabis Use Before, During and After Pregnancy /  (Français) L’usage du cannabis avant, pendant et après la grossesse

RCDHU Cannabis Infographic:  Cannabis Impact on Youth Under 25  / (Français) L’usage du cannabis chez les 25 ans et moins

Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know

Risks of Cannabis on Fertility, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Parenting

Clearing the Air about Recreational Marijuana Use

Canada’s Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG)

Youth Health Trends in Ontario: Cannabis Since Legalization

Marijuana and Youth

Cannabis Talk Kit

Don’t Drive High

Schizophrenia Society of Canada: Cannabis and Psychosis

Kids Help Phone

Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 Get the Facts: Health Harms of Cannabis Use

Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 Get the Facts: The Difference Between Recreational Cannabis and Medical Cannabis

The misuse of substances, including prescription drugs and illegal drugs, can have negative effects on the health of individuals, families, and communities.

Information about the different types of controlled and illegal drugs used in Canada

 

Where to get help

Drug and Alcohol Helpline 1-800-565-8603 Confidential, free, anonymous, live answer, 24/7.

Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 24-hour crisis and information line.

Harm Reduction Supplies

The Health Unit provides sterile, single use injection equipment for injection drug users. We also provide sharps containers for used supplies, which can be returned for safe disposal. Harm reduction services help prevent the transmission of diseases and reduce the health risks of drug use.

Naloxone Kits

The Health Unit offers free Naloxone kits to:

  • active clients of a Needle Syringe Program who are age 16 and over and at risk of an overdose
  • friends or family members (age 16 and over) of active at-risk clients

The Health Unit provides information about other sources of Naloxone kits for people who do not meet the above criteria.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can temporarily stop or reverse an opioid overdose. Examples of opioids include oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl and codeine. If you think someone is having an opioid overdose call 9-1-1, then give naloxone right away.

Drop-in – no appointment necessary.

Where and When

Pembroke office

Monday to Friday except holidays
8:00 am – 4:00 pm

For more information, call the Harm Reduction Line: 613-602-6056.

Where to get Naloxone in Renfrew County and District

Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program

What's Happening Soon

View Our Calendar

Pembroke Office

TEL: 613-732-3629 or 1-800-267-1097

Renfrew Office

TEL: 613-432-5853 or 1-800-465-5000

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – noon and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.