Dear Parents and Caregivers,

With the summer break approaching, we wanted to communicate some updates and reminders to students, parents and caregivers. We know that having supportive and honest conversations with young people about substance use is important in their ability to make healthy and safe choices for themselves and in supporting others. Here are some ideas that might help:

  • The most important part of talking with your child is giving them time to share their worries or questions. Listen carefully and try to understand what they know about substance use. Ask questions to help them think about how they feel about drugs (including alcohol) including the risks associated with their use.
  • Substance use and overdose can affect any family in our community. The youth in your life might be faced with choices about their own substance use or the choices of the people they know. Take time to talk about the signs and symptoms of overdose and the importance of calling 911 in an emergency.
  • Make a safety plan with the young person(s) in your life:
  • Discuss the harms of mixing drugs and alcohol (including increased risk of overdose).
  • Discuss the Good Samaritan Law: it protects from prosecution due to simple drug possession charges for anyone who calls 911 in an overdose emergency. Let them know it is safe to call 911 if they or someone they know are in trouble. Develop a plan with your child about what to do if they need help. Let them know that their safety is most important.
  • If you think your child may use alcohol or drugs or be in situations where drugs are being used, talk to them about the importance of staying with a friend to help keep each other safe.
  • Talk about how opioids (like fentanyl) can be mixed in with other drugs. Fentanyl has been found in drugs that you can swallow, smoke and inject.
  • If you think your child is using substances, naloxone is an important tool for preventing a fatal opioid overdose. Naloxone can be found at many locations throughout our region.
  • To start the conversation, please look for a new video to be released by the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council about the Good Samaritan Act and the importance of calling 911 for help. The link to the video will be available at overdoseprevention.ca by July 15, 2018.

For more information about work being done in Waterloo region related to substance use and overdose, and for helpful resources, visit www.waterlooregiondrugstrategy.ca.