Toxic Drug Alerts

Addictions / Substance Use and Public Health

Provided by Toward the Heart

Text alerts to flag toxic drugs in circulation.
Toxic drug and health alerts is a free, real-time text messaging service for anyone to receive toxic drug alerts or share information about toxic drugs in their community. This service is anonymous. People can also get other information by text message, like where to find naloxone or how to get drugs tested.


Text notifications are now sent to subscribers who want timely information about illicit substances and increases in toxic drug poisonings in their region. Subscribing is easy – simply text JOIN to 253787.

People living in the Fraser Health, Interior Health, Island Health, Northern Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health regions can sign up to receive text message alerts about toxic drugs in their community. The service is anonymous.

To sign up text the word JOIN to 253787 (ALERTS). When you sign up you’ll be asked which health region you want to get alerts for. You can choose more than one region or sign up for the whole province.

The Toxic Drug and Health Alerts system is also a platform for people to anonymously submit information such as date and location of drug overdose, a physical description of the drug and packaging, where the substance was purchased, and what it is believed to be. Community members—including those who use substances—are encouraged to submit information by texting OD to 253787. Once received, the information is reviewed by harm reduction teams and used in conjunction with other sources to send text message alerts to subscribers. People who use drugs, community partners, emergency departments, first responders, drug user groups, and the BC Coroners Service all help inform alerts.

Website: https://towardtheheart.com/alerts

Service is available in English.

Cost: No cost

Associated Programs/Services

Also offered by Toward the Heart:

Availability

Service area: Province-wide + show cities

Service area cities: 100 Mile House, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Aldergrove, Alert Bay, Alexis Creek, Anahim Lake, Anmore, Armstrong, Ashcroft, Atlin, Bamfield, Banff, Barriere, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Black Creek, Blue River, Boston Bar, Bowen Island, Brentwood Bay, Burnaby, Burns Lake, Cache Creek, Calgary, Campbell River, Canmore, Castlegar, Cathedral Grove, Cawston, Chase, Chemainus, Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Christina Lake, Clearwater, Clinton, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Coquitlam, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Crawford Bay, Creston, Cumberland, Daajing Giids, Dawson Creek, Dease Lake, Deep Bay, Delta, Denman Island, Duncan, Edgewood, Elkford, Enderby, Fanny Bay, Fernie, Fort Langley, Fort Nelson, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fraser Lake, Fruitvale, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gibsons, Golden, Gold River, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Hanceville, Hazelton, Hope, Hornby Island, Horne Lake, Houston, Hudson's Hope, Invermere, Kamloops, Kaslo, Kelowna, Keremeos, Kimberley, Kitimat, Kyuquot, Ladner, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Lake Cowichan, Langford, Langley, Lantzville, Lethbridge, Lillooet, Lions Bay, Logan Lake, Long Beach, Lumby, Lytton, Mackenzie, Maple Ridge, Masset, Mayne Island, McBride, Merritt, Merville, Midway, Mill Bay, Mission, Nakusp, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Nelson, New Aiyansh, New Denver, New Westminster, Nitinaht, North Delta, North Saanich, North Vancouver, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Oyama, Parksville, Peachland, Pemberton, Pender Harbour, Pender Island, Penelakut Island, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Coquitlam, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Princeton, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Riske Creek, Rock Creek, Rossland, Saanich, Saanichton, Salmo, Salmon Arm, Salt Spring Island, Sardis, Saturna Island, Sayward, Scotch Creek, Sechelt, Shawnigan Lake, Sicamous, Sidney, Skidegate, Slocan, Smithers, Sointula, Sooke, Sorrento, South Surrey, Sparwood, Spences Bridge, Squamish, Stewart, Summerland, Sun Peaks, Surrey, Tahsis, Tatla Lake, Telkwa, Terrace, Tofino, Trail, Tsawwassen, Tumbler Ridge, Ucluelet, Valemount, Vancouver, Vanderhoof, Vernon, Victoria, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake, Winlaw, Witset, and Yale

Service Types Provided
Addictions / Substance Use
Public Health
    Ways to Access
    • Provided by text or chat

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