Archie knew a lot about opioids. He was also really curious about how different drugs affected him. But, he never intended to take fentanyl. We’ve learned that there are things that he and others could have done to protect him from the poison that killed him.
Here are the things a person can do to keep themselves and their friends safer when using drugs
Take drugs with your friends nearby. Most people who overdose are alone when they do. People often use drugs by themselves in their apartments. In clubs or at festivals, people go into the bathroom to be on their own. Don’t take drugs alone.
Carry naloxone. It’s the antidote to fentanyl. Naloxone is free in Canada. Not enough people know that and even fewer are carrying it. If you or your friends use drugs, be the one to carry naloxone. You can find out where to get it by visiting this Health Canada site.
Take it slow. When taking a new drug or taking it from a new source, take a much smaller dose. See how it goes.
Test your drugs. Safe consumption sites offer testing for fentanyl. You can also find fentanyl test strips online at places like Amazon. They’re designed to test for fentanyl in urine or on other substances but many people are using them to test their drugs to see if they contain fentanyl. These are not a perfect technology, but using these along with the other harm reduction techniques can keeper you safer.
Resources
Health Canada recommendations for safer drug use
Archie MV 