Raising awareness about addiction services (6 photos)

The Sault Ste. Marie and Area Drug Strategy hosted its first ever Addiction Information Fair at the Indian Friendship Centre Friday afternoon. About a dozen area agencies were on hand to educate the public about available services and answer questions regarding substance abuse and harm reduction.

Extremely pleased with the public turnout, chair of the Drug Strategy Committee Desiree Beck told SooToday the event is an important step towards broadening the public’s awareness of the many addictions services available within the community.

“The different service represented here are making connections which is important,” she said. “We’ve been working in silos for so long but we’re trying to make sure everyone has the right information. That’s what’s happening here.”

Participating agencies in the Addiction Information Fair included Algoma Public Health, North Shore Tribal Council, Sault Area Hospital, Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services, Breton House, and the Group Health Centre.

The inaugural Addiction Information Fair happened the same week a naloxone kit program was announced for the region. The Sault Ste. Marie and Area Drug Strategy and the Hep Care Program at Group Health Centre will administer the program in order to prevent deaths due to opioid overdose.

Naloxone kits are available to those at risk of an overdose and their families, but cannot be distributed without proper training. The Hep Care Program’s naloxone kit training sessions take place every Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Neighbourhood Resource Centre on Gore Street. Private training sessions can be scheduled anywhere within the Algoma district by calling 1-888-943-4372.