Thompson

Core Initiatives of the Campaign

Widespread Naloxone Training: Primary Health Nurses from the NHR travel directly to community pop-ups to lead live, free training sessions. Residents learn to spot the signs of opioid toxicity and successfully administer take-home Naloxone kits.

Decentralised Community Hubs: Rather than hosting a single event, the NHR partners with local networks—such as the Play it Safer Network and the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre—to activate public spaces like Pioneer Square. These gatherings blend critical mental health resources with free food and entertainment to establish safe, non-stigmatising local environments.

Indigenous Partnership and Cultural Support: A critical portion of the campaign involves collaborating with Indigenous organizations, including Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). These partnerships work to ensure that substance use education and addiction services remain culturally relevant, recognizing the specific resilience and needs of First Nations individuals and families in the north.

The “Stop Stigma, Save Lives” Framework: A prominent educational arm of northern public health messaging aims to shift the narrative around substance use disorder. By treating overdose strictly as a health issue rather than a moral failure, the campaign actively lowers social barriers that prevent people from seeking help or reporting emergencies.