Student AffairsSafer Substance Use Strategies
- Stick to one substance
- Drink water between alcoholic drinks
- Eat before and while drinking
- Start low and go slow
- Know your limit and drink within it
- Have a plan to get home safely
- Avoid sharing drinks, vapes, joints, etc.
- Surround yourself with people you can trust
- Do not use drugs on your own
- Carry a naloxone kit (find out where to get one free)
- Be ready to say “no thanks” if you need to slow down/stop consuming
How to Help a Friend
- Stay with them
- Offer them water and/or food
- If they want to lie down, have them lie on their side (see Recovery Position)
- Know the signs of opioid overdose (tiny pupils, no/slow breathing, snoring, gurgling sounds, cold/clammy skin, blue/purplish lips/fingernails, vomiting, not responding)
- If someone is unresponsive, call 9-1-1, give naloxone (if you suspect an opioid overdose), perform rescue breathing & chest compressions (if needed and you know how)
- Help them get home safely or get them connected to the right resource
Where to go for help
- How to decide where to go (PDF, 168 KB): lists Queen’s and community medical options available to you and when you should use each one
Resources
Campus Observation Room (COR)
Voluntary, confidential and non-judgemental place where students who’ve had too much to drink can come to sleep. Must be able to walk (with support), talk (mumble) & under the influence of alcohol mostly.
Location: Southeast entrance of Leonard Hall, 128 Queen’s Crescent
Phone: 613-533-6911
Find hours and additional details about COR
Student Wellness Services
Provides medical services for cuts, bruises, sprains & strains. Can also assess and refer to other appropriate resources.
Location: Mitchell Hall (room 109), 69 Union Street
Phone: 613-533-2506
Urgent Care Centre
Provides medical services for cuts needing stitches, minor concussions and broken bones.
Hours: Daily from 8am-8pm until capacity reached, check website
Location: 144 Brock Street
Phone: 613-546-1240
Find additional details about Urgent Care Centre
Emergency Department
For life/limb threatening injuries, sexual violence/domestic abuse.
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Location: 41 King Street West
Phone: 613-548-2333
Southeast Public Health is warning residents about increases of drug poisonings. Overdoses are happening quickly and testing has revealed fluorofentanyl; a potent opioid that is twice as strong as fentanyl.
Anyone who suspects or witnesses an overdose should call 9-1-1. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection against simple drug possession charges for anyone who experiences, witnesses or responds to an overdose and calls 9-1-1.
Public Health recommends:
- Avoid using alone. If you use alone, tell someone before you use and have a safety plan that includes having someone check in with you. Alternatives may include:
- Using with a friend or family member present or virtually
- Staggering use if both are using drugs.
- Using a supervised consumption service in person at 661 Montreal St., Kingston or virtually by calling the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-NORS (6677)
- Avoid using more than one drug at a time, including alcohol.
- Go slow. The quality of unregulated drugs is unpredictable.
- Get a free naloxone kit and training. Always carry it with you.
- Seek medical treatment.
Find more information on harm reduction