Party safer: Tips for a safe summer party season
With summer festival season in full swing and vacations underway, it's party time for thousands of people across Ottawa.
Ottawa Public Health has launched a new online tool to help people party safely, especially when alcohol or drugs are involved.
'We know that alcohol and drugs are a part of the festivities and celebration often, too,' Megan Francoeur, with Ottawa Public Health, told CTV Morning Live. 'Just making sure that we're not mixing substances, starting low, going slow, looking out for each other, getting naloxone, making sure that we know how to respond to overdose and intoxication.'
PartySafer.ca includes free online trainings, printable materials, social media tools, and community resources for event goers and event organizers.
'There's resources for event staff and volunteers, free trainings that take 15 minutes with some really practical tips and also resources for parents and guardians to talk about substance use with your teens and also festivalgoers and school students,' said Francoeur.
The site has details on commonly used substances like alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and tobacco, along with information on harm reduction and naloxone use, including where to get naloxone kits.
Naloxone
A naloxone kit is shown in this undated image. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)
The site also has information on mental health and addictions resources, bystander intervention and violence prevention, and safe sex.
'People are out more and we've been out at special events recently and it's been so nice to see the response from thousands of people coming up, saying they're happy to be doing this type of training and we love to see it when somebody walks by our tent and goes, 'I already have a (naloxone) kit,'' Francoeur said.
The free trainings require an Olearn account, which is free to set up, but other resources including tips, information, and links to service providers are freely accessible on the PartySafer.ca website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
a few seconds ago
- Cision Canada
Sotos Class Actions: Proposed Settlement Reached in National Class Actions Regarding Philips Respironics Devices Français
, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - A proposed partial settlement has been reached concerning the Economic Loss Claims in the Canada-wide class actions, Morel v. Koninklijke Philips N.V. et al. and Roy v. Respironics Inc. et al. The class actions address claims from individuals, corporations, hospitals, or partnerships in Canada who purchased or used certain Philips Respironics CPAP, BiPAP, or ventilator devices that were part of a voluntary recall first announced on June 14, 2021. Key Partial Settlement Details: Settlement Fund: 20 million CAD to resolve Economic Loss Claims, covering money spent or lost as a result of replacing the device and participating in the voluntary recall. Compensation Plan: Class Members may be eligible to receive up to $125 per purchased device and a percentage (30%-90%) of the replacement cost if replacement costs were incurred and receipts can be provided, less legal and administration fees and disbursements. Number of potential affected members: More than 300,000. This partial settlement does not include personal injury claims. These claims are still ongoing, and Class Members in this settlement keep their right to continue with them. The courts in British Columbia and Quebec must approve the settlement for it to take effect. If approved, all class members who have not opted out of the class actions will be bound by its terms. Opting Out or Objecting Details regarding the approval of the settlement, including the process for allowing Class Members to opt out or object are available at the following address: Legal Fees Class Counsel will apply for the approval of fees amounting to a maximum of 30% of the total settlement and an honorarium for the British Columbia Representative Plaintiff, subject to court approval.
CTV News
27 minutes ago
- CTV News
Rubber duck race supports The Hospice Windsor-Essex for third year in a row
The third annual rubber duck race is set to take place this weekend. A total of 5,000 rubber ducks will race for charity on Friday, in support of The Hospice Windsor-Essex. At 6:30 p.m., the waddling of rubber will be released from a ladder of a Lakeview fire truck at Lakeview Park West Beach along the canal. The public can purchase $20 raffle tickets to enter the race. If your raffle ticket matches the first-place finisher, you will win the grand prize of $20,000. Proceeds from the race will directly support care for hospice patients and families in our community. Since 1979, The Hospice has provided compassionate, clinical, end-of-life care for members of our community. With only partial government funding, the organization relies on the generosity of donors from the public and private sector. In addition, community volunteers continue to provide vital care for patients and their loved ones. Sarah Overton is the manager of community and volunteer engagement at The Hospice Windsor-Essex and part of the planning committee for the Rubber Duck Race. Overton is enthusiastic about the community support the race has garnered over the last three years because of the important impact it has at The Hospice. 'It is a community event, and it supports our hospice community here,' said Overton. 'And it ensures that we're able to provide care at no cost to our community members when they need us most.' If you'd like to grab a ticket for the race, you can do so here. More information about the Hospice Rubber Duck Race is available here.
CTV News
29 minutes ago
- CTV News
Painkiller shortage forces Windsor pharmacists to make tough calls
Pharmacies are dealing with a prescription painkiller shortage as they try to accommodate customers with limited supply. CTV Windsor's Travis Fortnum reports. A national shortage of a commonly prescribed painkiller is being felt locally — forcing Windsor-Essex pharmacists to ration supply, split doses, and find stopgap solutions for patients in pain. 'We're basically out now,' said Tim Brady, owner of Brady's Drug Store. 'We're limiting people to 30-day supplies instead of three months, just trying to spread it around.' Brady's Drug Store painkiller shortage Tim Brady, owner of Brady's Drug Store, assists a customer at the Essex location as the national painkiller shortage forces pharmacists to ration supply and explore alternatives. Seen in Essex, Ont. on July 21, 2025. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) Brady is talking about Oxycocet, a medication that combines oxycodone and acetaminophen into one pill. It's similar in composition to better-known brand names like Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) and Tylenol 3 (codeine and acetaminophen). Health Canada confirms those are among several products in short supply across the country due to 'manufacturing disruptions and increased demand.' According to the federal regulator, that includes: Acetaminophen with codeine: Lenoltec No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, and Emtec-30 Lenoltec No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, and Emtec-30 Acetaminophen with oxycodone: Oxycocet, Apo-Oxycodone/Acet, and Rivacocet 'Health Canada recognizes how important these medications are for people managing pain and acknowledges the impact shortages may have on their daily lives,' a spokesperson said in a written statement. 'We understand that this can be distressing for patients and their families. The department is doing everything it can to help resolve these shortages.' Health Canada said it's working with manufacturers, distributors, provinces and territories to 'monitor the situation and explore options to increase access.' But for patients walking into pharmacies today, it's a challenge already at hand. 'It's scary,' said Brady. 'If you've been stabilized… and suddenly it's not available, you don't want to go back to that place again.' That's why his team is calling around to other pharmacies, dispensing what they can — and, when needed, working with doctors to prescribe an alternative. Hospitals are feeling the squeeze too. 'We saw this coming,' said Antoinette Duronio, director of pharmacy services at Windsor Regional Hospital. She said her team reviewed its inventory early and began adjusting distribution to avoid disruptions. 'We review the stock, determine when we might run out and restrict it to the patients who absolutely need it — while finding alternatives for others,' she said. Mina Tadrous, a pharmacist and drug policy researcher at the University of Toronto, said the shortage reflects the complexity of the pharmaceutical supply chain. 'For one pill to end up in your vial, it probably has ingredients from multiple countries,' he said. 'It's gone through maybe eight or nine different factories, and it's ended up in that place. And so, if something along that chain happened, you start to see a domino effect.' He added: 'It's what we call is a fast mover — a commonly used medication… You're faced with a scenario where you have to make tough choices.' Making those choices could be easier, the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) argues, if pharmacists had more authority to act independently during shortages. 'Under federal rules (the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act), pharmacists aren't allowed to prescribe or switch medications like opioids, even in situations like this,' said Tyler Gogo, senior manager of communications for the CPhA. 'We've raised this issue before — if pharmacists had more flexibility under the CDSA, they could provide care in a more timely and convenient way.' Gogo pointed out that while most provinces allow pharmacists to adjust prescriptions for non-controlled drugs, the federal CDSA prevents them from doing the same with opioids like Oxycocet or Tylenol 3. 'That means pharmacists can't easily help patients switch medications, even when there's a shortage.' This restriction exists because opioids are tightly regulated due to their high risk for addiction and abuse, requiring physician oversight for any adjustments. As for how long might this specific shortage last? 'It's expected to last into early August,' said Gogo. Health Canada recommends patients speak with their doctor or pharmacist, 'who can help identify alternative treatments or strategies to manage their supply.' And on the ground, Brady is asking for patience and understanding from those who rely on these medications. 'We're not trying to make your life difficult,' he said. 'It's just we can't get any.'
