Opioids
Covers both prescription and non-prescription use, with NL's own dedicated treatment line.
What it is
Opioid use covers a wide range, from medication prescribed after surgery to non-prescription use. Dependence can develop even when opioids were originally taken exactly as prescribed, which is part of why this is treated as a medical issue, not a moral one.
Common signs
- Needing more of the medication to get the same relief
- Using opioids for reasons beyond the original pain (mood, stress, sleep)
- Withdrawal symptoms between doses
- Running out of prescriptions early or seeking them from multiple sources
- Continuing use despite clear negative effects on health or life
Good to know
Opioid overdose is reversible with naloxone if given in time — see Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Use below for exactly what that looks like in practice.
What helps
Treatment usually combines medication (such as opioid agonist therapy) with counselling, and NL has a dedicated provincial line specifically for opioid treatment navigation, separate from the general addictions system.
When to seek help
Ask for help before a crisis point — the provincial Opioid Dependence Treatment Line exists exactly for this, and dependence is far easier to treat early than after years of use.
Services that can help
- Provincial Opioid Dependence Treatment LineSupport and navigation for people using opioids, their families, and providers.
- Take-Home Naloxone ProgramFree take-home naloxone kits (injectable and nasal) to reverse an opioid overdose. Get one with no referral from many pharmacies, public health offices, or by calling 811 to find the nearest location.
- Safe Works Access Program (SWAP) - AIDS Committee of NLFree, non-judgmental harm reduction: clean supplies, needle exchange, naloxone, and drug-checking (fentanyl/benzo) test strips, with a mail-out option for rural NL.
- The Recovery Centre19-bed provincial detox and withdrawal management centre for alcohol and other drug use, ages 16+. Self-referral — call directly, no referral required.
- Humberwood CentreLive-in treatment for alcohol, drug, and gambling addiction. Free, ages 19+. 3–4 week program for middle-to-late stage addiction.
- The Grace Centre18-room live-in treatment centre for alcohol and other substance use, 28-day program, ages 18+.
Related topics
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you're in crisis, go to Get Help Now instead of reading further.