The Government of the Northwest Territories has launched a web page of online resources aimed at informing, educating and supporting people about substance abuse. The site is called Drugs in the NWT.
“These resources are here to help you, your family, and your community stay safe and informed,” said GNWT’s Health and Social Services department.
GNWT’s Health and Social Services department has warned that the illicit drug landscape is changing rapidly in N.W.T. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer talked with many community and Indigenous leaders about what information would be needed to support the community response.
They identified a general knowledge gap around the newer types of drugs that are entering the NWT.
“Whether you’re curious about how benzodiazepines affect the body, the street names for methamphetamine, what fentanyl looks like, or why it is often used to spike other substances such as MDMA or cocaine, Drugs in the NWT offers clear, reliable answers,” GNWT’s Health and Social Services department said in their announcement last week.
Resources include:
- Fact sheets on individual substances found in the NWT’s illicit drug supply, from alcohol and cannabis to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
- Safer partying tips to help reduce harm in social and recreational settings.
- Information on accessing Naloxone kits, what they do and how to use them.
- Links to support services, both territorial and federal, for people navigating addiction.
Andrew Wind, communications manager for GNWT’s Health and Social Services, told True North FM that the resources are meant to reach wide population groups across N.W.T.
“The resources have been developed to reach a broad, general audience, with information that is relevant and relatable to everyone from at-risk teenagers to concerned grandparents. They have been edited for plain language, ensuring that the information remains accurate while presenting it in language that is as simple as possible,” said Wind.
Many people living in remote regions in the territories have issues with internet connectivity. The online resources have been designed to be downloadable so they can be stored on a local drive, explained Wind.
“The drug fact sheets are available as online content and as downloadable PDFs. File sizes have been kept small, to ensure that they are as accessible as possible, and they can easily be stored on local drives. As well, there will be printed copies of the drug fact sheets available on demand from health centres in communities across the territories,” said Wind.
