Community Care: Naloxone and Harm Reduction
Facilitator: USask & SURGE
Delivery: In-person
Length: 2 Hours
Difficulty: Beginner
Join us for this course
Workshop Overview
In partnership with University of Saskatchewan School of Public Health and Substance Use Research Group for Engagement (SURGE), this workshop provides practical, life-saving knowledge on how to recognize and respond to an overdose, alongside foundational principles of harm reduction. Participants will learn how substance use affects individuals and communities, and how compassionate, informed actions can reduce risks and save lives.
Through a combination of discussion, real-life scenarios, and hands-on practice, attendees will build confidence in identifying the signs of an overdose and responding effectively using naloxone. The workshop also explores key harm reduction strategies that promote safety, dignity, and respect for people who use substances.
Beyond individual response, this session highlights the power of community. Participants will reflect on how stigma can impact access to care and learn ways to foster supportive, non-judgmental communities. By strengthening awareness, connection, and shared responsibility, communities can play a vital role in preventing overdoses and supporting recovery and wellbeing.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.
What You Will Learn
- 01Recognizing the Signs of an Opioid Overdose
- Identify the physical signs of opioid overdose
- Distinguish between someone who is "high" or sedated and someone who is overdosing
- Recognize risk factors that increase overdose likelihood
- Understand why timing matters and how quickly to act once signs appear
- 02Overdose Response
- Learn the recommended sequence of response
- Practice how to administer naloxone
- Understand naloxone's effects, how long it lasts, and why repeat doses or continued monitoring may be needed
- Learn what to do while waiting for help to arrive, and how to care for someone as they come out of an overdose
- 03Core Principles of Harm Reduction
- Understand the philosophy behind harm reduction
- Learn practical safer-use strategies
- Understand the role of tools like fentanyl test strips and naloxone kits in reducing risk
- Recognize harm reduction as a spectrum of support, not an all-or-nothing approach
- 04Responding with Compassion and the Affects of Stigma
- Understand how stigma shows up in language, assumptions, and systems
- Learn how stigma acts as a barrier to people seeking help or carrying naloxone
- Practice person-first, non-judgmental language when talking about substance use
- Explore ways to respond to disclosures of substance use with empathy rather than judgment
- 05Ways to Support as Individuals and Communities
- Identify practical ways to support someone who uses substances
- Learn how to build informal community safety nets
- Understand the role of community organizations and how to connect people to local resources
- Explore how participants can carry this training forward into their own networks and workplaces
Included With The Workshop
- Naloxone kit
Associated Certifications
Not applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that you may have questions, and we’re here to help! Some of the most commonly asked questions about this course are covered below but if they don’t cover what you are looking for feel free to reach out to us through our contact page, and we’ll respond promptly to ensure you get the assistance you require. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we’re committed to making sure you have all the information necessary for a seamless experience.
No, we'll provide a practice environment for the workshop. However, if you already have a site, feel free to bring your login credentials and follow along on your own.
This workshop focuses on core WordPress functionality like settings, content, and organization. We discuss plugins briefly but do not get into themes at this time.
This workshop will be based on the most current, stable version of WordPress using the Block Editor (Gutenberg). If you're running an older version or using the Classic Editor, some steps may look slightly different.
Registration
Use the registration form below to register attendees for this course. Once you are registered we will be in touch to coordinate payment. We look forward to seeing you!