Overdose Prevention
Building Knowledge, Reducing Risk, Saving Lives
Overdose prevention is about making sure people have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to respond when it matters most.
LIFT provides overdose prevention education and bystander training to individuals, families, and service providers across Lanark County. Our goal is to reduce preventable deaths, strengthen community readiness, and support safer outcomes during moments of crisis.
What We Offer
LIFT’s overdose prevention work focuses on practical, real-world skills that people can use immediately.
This includes:
Bystander training on recognizing and responding to overdoses
Education on overdose risks and changing drug toxicity
Naloxone training and distribution
Support for families, peers, and frontline workers
Training is delivered in clear, accessible language and adapted to different settings — from one-on-one conversations to small group sessions.
Reducing Stigma, Increasing Confidence
LIFT approaches overdose prevention without judgment or blame.
We recognize that substance use affects individuals, families, and communities in many different ways. Our role is not to tell people what to do, but to provide clear information and practical tools so they can respond with confidence and care.
Accessing Overdose Prevention Support
Overdose prevention education and training are available through LIFT’s mobile outreach team and community partnerships.
If you’re interested in training for yourself, your family, or your organization, please contact LIFT to learn more or request a session.
LIFT believes overdose prevention is a shared responsibility — and everyone deserves the chance to be prepared.
Why it Matters
Reducing risk and empowering communities to respond
Overdose risk exists in every community, and timely intervention can mean the difference between life and death. Prevention isn’t just information — it’s preparedness.
Source: Ontario Drug Policy Research Network – Opioid Indicator Tool
Fentanyl and its analogues are involved in the majority of opioid-related deaths in Ontario, increasing the speed and severity of overdoses and making rapid response critical.
Source: Health Canada – National Naloxone Distribution Data
Take-home naloxone programs across Canada have been associated with thousands of overdose reversals reported through provincial distribution programs.
Ontario continues to record thousands of emergency department visits related to opioid toxicity each year, reflecting the ongoing need for community-level prevention efforts.
Source: Public Health Ontario – Interactive Opioid Tool
