The ALLY Centre of Cape Breton

06/18/2026

Drug Alert!!!

We have had positive test results for Fentanyl in crystal m**h as well as positive results for Fentanyl and Metedomidine in co***ne today. Please keep naloxone near by and do not use alone. If someone is overdosing, please call 911 immediately. Please be safe.

06/15/2026

Two alerts in one day...please be safe!

Unverified , June 15, 2026: Crystal m**h suspected to contain fentanyl in Kings County

We have received a report from a community source regarding crystal m**h suspected to contain fentanyl in Kings County.

How to Stay Safe: Let someone know, start low, and go slow.

✔ Do NOT use drugs alone – Use with someone you trust or call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS. They will stay on the phone with you while you use, so they can get you help if needed.

✔ Start with a very small amount – These drugs are stronger than what people may expect or may be used to.

✔ Have naloxone ready – Naloxone can help with opioid overdoses, but it will NOT work on other substances, such as benzodiazepines. Even if you're unsure what substance caused an overdose, always give naloxone—it won’t harm the person, but it may help if opioids are involved.

✔ Call 911 immediately for any overdose – Even if naloxone is used, emergency help is still needed.

✔ Naloxone is only effective for opioids. It will not impact the effects of benzodiazepines or tranquilizers like medetomidine, xylazine, or other drug types. Medical help from 911 or the hospital is required. If naloxone is ineffective, start rescue breaths. August 2024 5 Steps to Save a Life - Nasal Naloxone:https://mha.nshealth.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/5%20steps%20to%20save%20a%20life.pdf

✔ Expect the unexpected – Always assume street drugs may not be what you think and contain drugs different from or stronger than you expect. Pills that look like real medicine could be fake.

✔ Avoid mixing drugs – Combining opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol greatly increases the risk of overdose and death.

✔ Go to an overdose prevention site – If available in your area, these sites provide a safe space to use drugs with medical staff who can help in case of an emergency.

• ReFIX Halifax: 2151 Gottingen St. (902-209-9370)
• PeerSix Sydney: 75 Prince St. (902-567-1766)

If someone overdoses:

· Call 911 immediately – Tell them someone is unresponsive.
· Give naloxone if you have it. More than one dose may be needed if high potency opioids are involved. If there are no opioids, naloxone will be ineffective but will not cause harm – give it anyway.
· Stay with them and make sure they can breathe.
· If they stop breathing, perform CPR until help arrives.

Get Free Naloxone Kits: You can get naloxone for free at most pharmacies and harm reduction programs. To learn more, visit: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/takehomenaloxoneprogram

Looking for help?

• Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line – 1-888-429-8167
• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868; Text CONNECT to 686868
• Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service - (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30; Tues and Thurs until 8 pm) - 1-855-922-1122
• 211 Nova Scotia - information and referrals to community and social services: Call 2-1-1 or 1-855-466-4994; Email: [email protected]

06/13/2026

We had a fantastic time celebrating 30 years of Sharp Advice Needle Exhange!

Thanks to the entire staff of the Ally Centre and our volunteers for making this day a success. A very special thanks to founders Janet Bickerton and Jean MacQueen for sharing with us the history of why this program is needed and how important it continues to be to the health and safety of our community. A huge thank you to the staff of Sharp Advice, Shawn Charles Murray, Frances Coles and Regina McNeil for their ongoing care and dedication to the community!

06/12/2026

Today! BBQ, Music, fun and games all in our parking lot. Stop by and learn about our services and learn how you too can help keep your community healthier and safer. There will be tables set up with information and supplies on the safe disposal of sharps, naloxne training and health

06/11/2026

Unverified , June 11, 2026: Unknown drug of high toxicity causing multiple overdoses in Pictou County.

We have received a report from a community source regarding an unknown drug of high toxicity that, after being smoked, caused multiple overdoses in Pictou County.

How to Stay Safe: Let someone know, start low, and go slow.

✔ Do NOT use drugs alone – Use with someone you trust or call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS. They will stay on the phone with you while you use, so they can get you help if needed.

✔ Start with a very small amount – These drugs are stronger than what people may expect or may be used to.

✔ Have naloxone ready – Naloxone can help with opioid overdoses, but it will NOT work on other substances, such as benzodiazepines. Even if you're unsure what substance caused an overdose, always give naloxone—it won’t harm the person, but it may help if opioids are involved.

✔ Call 911 immediately for any overdose – Even if naloxone is used, emergency help is still needed.

✔ Naloxone is only effective for opioids. It will not impact the effects of benzodiazepines or tranquilizers like medetomidine, xylazine, or other drug types. Medical help from 911 or the hospital is required. If naloxone is ineffective, start rescue breaths. August 2024 5 Steps to Save a Life - Nasal Naloxone:https://mha.nshealth.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/5%20steps%20to%20save%20a%20life.pdf

✔ Expect the unexpected – Always assume street drugs may not be what you think and contain drugs different from or stronger than you expect. Pills that look like real medicine could be fake.

✔ Avoid mixing drugs – Combining opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol greatly increases the risk of overdose and death.

✔ Go to an overdose prevention site – If available in your area, these sites provide a safe space to use drugs with medical staff who can help in case of an emergency.

• ReFIX Halifax: 2151 Gottingen St. (902-209-9370)
• PeerSix Sydney: 75 Prince St. (902-567-1766)

If someone overdoses:

· Call 911 immediately – Tell them someone is unresponsive.
· Give naloxone if you have it. More than one dose may be needed if high potency opioids are involved. If there are no opioids, naloxone will be ineffective but will not cause harm – give it anyway.
· Stay with them and make sure they can breathe.
· If they stop breathing, perform CPR until help arrives.

Get Free Naloxone Kits: You can get naloxone for free at most pharmacies and harm reduction programs. To learn more, visit: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/takehomenaloxoneprogram

Looking for help?

• Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line – 1-888-429-8167
• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868; Text CONNECT to 686868
• Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service - (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30; Tues and Thurs until 8 pm) - 1-855-922-1122
• 211 Nova Scotia - information and referrals to community and social services: Call 2-1-1 or 1-855-466-4994; Email: [email protected]

06/10/2026

Friday!!!!

06/09/2026

We are sharing our care and concern for our community members, who are at heightened risk of harms due to the unpredictability of the strength and contents of drugs in the illegal drug supply.

This report is a continuation of the report released on June 1, 2026. Cumberland County is seeing an ongoing elevated number of daily drug toxicities, described below. Some of the toxicities require multiple doses of naloxone or are unresponsive to naloxone.

• Call 911 and/or present to hospital with medical emergencies.
• Naloxone is temporary. When naloxone is administered, please stay with the person until EHS arrives. Give another dose if the first is not effective or if the person becomes unresponsive again.
• Naloxone is only effective for opioids. It will not impact the effects of tranquilizers like medetomidine, xylazine, or other drug types. Medical help from 911 or the hospital is required.

How to Stay Safe: Let someone know, start low, and go slow.

✔ Do NOT use drugs alone – Use with someone you trust or call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS. They will stay on the phone with you while you use, so they can get you help if needed.
✔ Start with a very small amount – These drugs are stronger than what people may expect or may be used to.
✔ Have naloxone ready – Naloxone can help with opioid overdoses, but it will NOT work on other substances, such as benzodiazepines. Even if you're unsure what substance caused an overdose, always give naloxone—it won’t harm the person, but it may help if opioids are involved.
✔ Call 911 immediately for any overdose – Even if naloxone is used, emergency help is still needed.
✔ Expect the unexpected – Always assume street drugs may not be what you think and contain drugs different from or stronger than you expect. Pills that look like real medicine could be fake.
✔ Avoid mixing drugs – Combining opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol greatly increases the risk of overdose and death.
✔ Go to an overdose prevention site – If available in your area, these sites provide a safe space to use drugs with medical staff who can help in case of an emergency.

• ReFIX Halifax: 2151 Gottingen St. (902-209-9370)
• PeerSix Sydney: 75 Prince St. (902-567-1766)

If someone overdoses:

• Call 911 immediately – Tell them someone is unresponsive.
• Give naloxone if you have it. More than one dose may be needed if high potency opioids are involved. If there are no opioids, naloxone will be ineffective but will not cause harm – give it anyway.
• Stay with them and make sure they can breathe.
• If they stop breathing, perform CPR until help arrives.

Get Free Naloxone Kits: You can get naloxone for free at most pharmacies and harm reduction programs. To learn more, visit: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/takehomenaloxoneprogram.

Looking for help?

• Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line – 1-888-429-8167
• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868; Text CONNECT to 686868
• Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service - (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30; Tues and Thurs until 8 pm) - 1-855-922-1122
• 211 Nova Scotia - information and referrals to community and social services: Call 2-1-1 or 1-855-466-4994; Email: [email protected]

06/09/2026

Hospitals have become the last thread in the social safety net for those that are unhoused costing the system millions of dollars but most importantly, there is the cost of human life. A more collaborative approach to homelessness is greatly needed.

https://www.marsdd.com/magazine/home-remedy-understanding-housing-as-a-medical-intervention-could-transform-the-homelessness-crisis/?fbclid=Iwb21leASUt_ZjbGNrBJS182V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHrwogDNczZ8nTwvpIAGvMON9HPzypMMT-XSnT10RxDGNxLgesdxpB5gUoeZe_aem_mpArvKsYbWIZUl2JtA5nYw

The housing crisis is fundamentally a health problem. Decades of research show that people experiencing homelessness spend twice as long in the hospital,

06/04/2026

Fresh veggies! Come help yourself!

06/04/2026

A wonderful program with very caring staff!