A newly formed National Overdose Response Service, or NORS, is offering a Canada-wide overdose prevention hotline.

The hotline is designed to provide confidential, non-judgmental support for drug users wherever they may be.

Opioid overdose is one of the leading causes of death for Canadians between the ages of 30 and 39.

Dr. Monty Ghosh treats vulnerable patients in Edmonton and Calgary and says the hotline aims to support safe usage.

He says the key is to be there for the client, wherever they’re at and whatever they need. He says many people can’t stop using, but NORS can help them use safely.

Ghosh says Alberta has seen a massive spike in overdoses.

He says Alberta’s rate of overdose is usually two individuals a day, which is equivalent to the rate of people dying in car accidents in the province. He says because of the pandemic, those rates have jumped to three or four individuals a day. He believes the trend is similar across the country.

To reach the hotline in Canada, call 1-888-688-NORS (6677).