Getting help and knowing your options
Safety & Harm Reduction — Guide 24 of 25

You can seek support whether you want information, less risky use, a reduction in use, or help stopping.

Different kinds of support
Options may include primary care, harm reduction services, counselling, peer support, medicines, withdrawal care, and residential or community treatment. Availability varies. A good starting point is asking which options match your goals and health needs.

Questions to bring
- “What support can I access if I am still using?”
- “Do I need medical help before cutting down?”
- “What does this cost, and is there a wait?”
- “What is confidential, and what are the limits?”
- “Can I bring a support person or request language or accessibility support?”

If the first service is not a fit
Ask for another referral or a different approach. You do not need to wait for the situation to become worse. For immediate danger, severe symptoms, or a suspected overdose, contact emergency services rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Finding help in Canada
Health Canada’s “Get help with substance use” directory links to provincial and territorial services and other supports. Ask about age requirements, cost, accessibility, and confidentiality. Children and teens can ask a trusted adult to help them contact a service.

If you are helping someone
Offer to find a service or attend an appointment if that is what the person wants.

WARN (OTHERS): After immediate care is covered, share dated advisories or observed concerns. Say what is confirmed and what is uncertain. Protect people’s privacy. Emergency care comes first. Never share someone’s name, identifying photo or private health details.

Your next step
Contact one service and ask for a first conversation about your options.

Learn more
Health Canada — Treatment and support
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/treatment.html

NIAAA — Treatment for alcohol problems
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help

Health Canada — Find substance use support across Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/get-help-with-substance-use.html

Current guide: https://therealdopeproject.com/safety-guides/getting-help-and-knowing-your-options

The Real DOPE Project — Safety Is for Everyone.

Contact: therealdopeproject@gmail.com

Resource text updated: 2026-10-13. Earlier sources retain their individual review dates.

General education, not individual medical advice or first aid certification. In an emergency, call 911 and follow the dispatcher and your exact kit instructions.

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