The ALLY Centre of Cape Breton
150 Bentinck Street B1P 6H1 Sydney, NS, Canada

The Ally Centre mobile is on the Northside today and our street nurse is on board! Stop by if you are in need of services and/or support!

Three years later and thanks to our Margaret and others, we now have mobile street health!

We all have a picture in our head about how we would like our Christmas to be, but, some families can’t even begin to hope for this picture to be reality beca...use of what they are going through and experiencing in their own lives. Cape Breton Transition House Assoc, Willow House, works hard to help the women and children in our community, with your help and generosity. Help us to give families a better Christmas with a few presents under the tree and a meal on their tables. Last year we helped over 70 families giving them over 400 gifts and meal vouchers. We cannot do this without your help! The need is great, and our community has always been so supportive! If you can contribute in some way, no matter how big or small we know it came from your heart and you can wrap these families in your caring and generous spirit. Please contact us at 902-562-2186 ext. 209 and speak to Angie, or as we call her Mrs. Claus, if you can assist us in any way. Happy Holidays! See more

Tomorrow our comfort/hygiene centre reopens to vulnerable poplations. Grab a shower, hot cup of coffee, snacks and get warm. 152 Bentinck, right next door to the Ally Centre. Hours of operation are 9 to 1, 7 days a week.

In recognition of the 20th anniversary of National Housing Day (November 22, 2020), shelter providers Adsum for Women & Children, Out of the Cold Community Asso...ciation, Phoenix Youth Programs and Shelter Nova Scotia have jointly issued a statement on the current state of housing in our community. Please Read. Thank you. See more

Once again, a HUGE Thank you going out to Donald Campbell for the donation of winter gear. Donald purchased us a ton of gloves, hats, thermal socks, and under layers!! Such an awesome gesture. Thank you so much Donald!!!!!! We appreciate your constant support of our organization #communityminded #harmreduction #coldweatherdonations Pictured with Donald are Tasha, Community Naloxone Trainer, and Fran, one of our amazing needle exchange outreach coordinators

Public Health received a report from the RCMP that a recent sample from Nova Scotia that was tested at the National Drug Analysis Service laboratory was positiv...e for Flualprazolam. Flualprazolam is a benzodiazepine, similar to alprazolam (aka Xanax, Xanny). According to the WHO, relative to other benzodiazepines, Flualprazolam is highly potent with a short onset period. Please be aware of the possibility substance contamination and the importance of safer drug use practices to reduce the risk of overdose. With the possibility of substance contamination, it’s important to reduce the risk of overdose: -- Don’t use alone, if possible. Keep a distance of 2 metres and respect public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 if using substances with others. If you have to use alone, call or text a trusted support person and let them know you are using alone and provide them with your location. -- Start with a test dose. Start low, go slow. -- Have naloxone available, even if you aren’t intentionally using opioids. Naloxone is available for free from most community pharmacies and other community locations, including needle distribution and disposal organizations. For more information about where to get a free naloxone kit and how to use it, visit http://www.nsnaloxone.com/ -- Call 911 in the event of an overdose. Know your rights under the Good Samaritan Act http://www.nsnaloxone.com/good-samaritan-act.html Please share this information friends and family, including youth.

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca//cape-breton-university/

https://www.capebretonpost.com//sydney-artist-pays-tribut/

https://www.nytimes.com//portugal-drug-legalization-treatm

Language matters! https://psmag.com/social/substance-abuse-label-reject-77416

Flu Shots Available at Eskasoni Health Centre Today October 19, 2020 From 10am-12pm & Then 2pm-8pm at the Cultural Centre #plzshareFlu Shots Available at Eskasoni Health Centre Today October 19, 2020 From 10am-12pm & Then 2pm-8pm at the Cultural Centre #plzshare

Just wanted to take a moment to thank the many, many folk who have dropped off food and donations. It means so much to the population who are struggling to know that they are being thought of and cared about. This thoughtfulness and caring gives them hope! We have a wonderful, kind community of people in the CBRM! Thanks Again!

Outside the Ally Centre, 150 Bentinck...open to everyone Final Giant Giveaway this Friday from 10:00 to 2:00. Clothes, dishes, boots and shoes and a few household goods like dishes and bedding! Open to everybody in need!

You know that mental health is extremely important. To help you or a youth in your life check out our weekly mental health groups.

HARM REDUCTION. For A Better Tomorrow. For A Better World Beginning Today...

By taking a trauma-informed approach, you shift from asking "What is wrong with this person?", to "What happened to this person?". A trauma-informed approach provides support in both an accessible and appropriate way for those who may have experienced trauma.