Northreach Society
9613 98th street T8V2E3 Grande Prairie, AB, Canada

Looking for some more addictions supports after playing our Addictions Awareness bingo yesterday? Here's some phone numbers for you! #NAAW #ChangeBeginsWithMe #SubstanceUse #StopStigma #HarmReduction #Northreach

Next week is National Addictions Awareness Week. In recognition of this week and to help create more awareness on substance use, we will be providing two online educational sessions during the week; one on Naloxone and one on Substances & Harm Reduction. Please email Typanga or Audrey to register! #NAAW #AddictionsAwareness #ChangeBeginsWithMe #HarmReduction #Northreach

World AIDS Day is December 1st! Watch for more posts leading up to the 1st.

Two new infographics from the Public Health Agency of Canada show the increase in syphilis in Alberta & Canada. Remember to practice safer sex: use condoms, get tested and treated! https://www.canada.ca//issue/women-syphilis-2015-2019.html https://www.canada.ca//issue/infectious-syphilis-2019.html

This Substances & Harm Reduction education will be provided tonight! Email Typanga to register. #NAAW #ChangeBeginsWithMe #SubstanceUseAwareness #HarmReduction #Northreach

We always celebrate when a barrier to accessing supports is eliminated https://www.cbc.ca//financial-hurdle-gone-alberta-first-pr

2day FM wants to do everything it can to support small and local business this holiday season. The upcoming 2day FM Advent Calendar Giveaway is a unique opportu...nity for small local businesses to showcase their products and services. If interested, please contact [email protected] ASAP as these spots will fill up very quickly! - Erica See more

Thank you to those who fought for us, and those that continue to serve.

Please see the new COVID-19 protocols regarding our LGTBQ+ Youth Group

New social media campaign related to U=U! We love this new one https://www.thebody.com/article/i-can-give-u-campaign

Want to play some bingo? Take a screenshot and mark off the squares you know of, and post in the comments if you like! If you're noticing you can't mark off many squares, reach out and see if we can help you out with some of them. Another way to gain more addiction support awareness is by joining our online Substances & Harm Reduction Presentation being offered on Tuesday, Nov 24 at 6:30 PM via zoom. Let us know if you want to meeting link and password!

Some tips for anyone newly diagnosed. Our Healthcare Navigator can also help out anyone that has recently received a positive diagnosis. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/newly-diagnosed

As of today, March 17, 2020, the Grande Prairie Northreach office is closed to the public as a result of the current COVID-19 situation. While our office is closed, we will still be offering limited services. If you require harm reduction supplies or a needle debris pick-up, please message our Facebook page, or call outreach at 780-832-8548. Those services will be dispatched as soon as possible.

Drug Alert We at Northreach have been informed that this substance being sold as MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) has been known to contain fentanyl. Please utilize safer drug-using actions: don't use alone, have someone check on you, have naloxone on hand and know how to use it, use at a supervised consumption site, use in smaller amounts and wait before using more, and be sure to reach out if you need help.

LHIVE Healthy is an online study to find out if web-based support can help HIV-positive people achieve their health goals. Participation is in 3 steps with gift-card compensation. Check out the website for more information www.lhivehealthy.ca

Thank you Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta! Your financial support will help our team greatly!

Yesterday we were given a brand new Subaru Ascent from Jim Green at Grande Prairie Subaru! We are so excited and grateful for this new vehicle. The ability to transport clients has a huge positive impact on the work we do. Northreach staff will be able to reach additional people in the community. Our clients will have added support and assistance when accessing medical appointments, food security, income support, and treatment and detox within Grande Prairie. Sometimes transportation is the only barrier in reaching these services. We are looking forward to being able to better serve our community with this new vehicle. Thank you again Grande Prairie Subaru!

We currently have three positions open at Northreach Society! Please apply on Indeed if you are interested.

Our naloxone presentation will be provided virtually tonight for National Addictions Awareness Week. Email Audrey to register! #NAAW #SubstanceUseAwareness #Naloxone #HarmReduction #ChangeBeginsWithMe #northreach

Thank you St Paul's United Church - Grande Prairie for this bundle of donations!

Good morning Grande Prairie! Have you heard of My Studios ? Wondering why we would be talking about a yoga studio on our social media? Yoga studios often have a karma class where instructors volunteer their time to teach a class, and all proceeds of that class are donated. My Studios is owned by MaryAnn Young, an EMT in our community. MaryAnn understands and appreciates the work Northreach Society does, especially on our Supervised Consumption Site. Because of this, she has g...enerously decided to donate her karma class proceeds for this year to Northreach Society. Karma classes at My Studios are every Saturday at 1pm. Karma classes are a win-win-win for everyone. You get to go to a yoga class New yoga instructors get experience teaching Proceeds from class are donated back to the community Thank you MaryAnn! See more

Thank you once again Michelle Renee Dacyk for the beauty bags! We always appreciate them!

Check out Prairie Harm Reduction's video on their new Supervised Consumption Site! This is Saskatchewan's first site. Watch the video to learn why need these sites in our communities! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSlAq8kyLCY&t=2s

"The data on that front, for the most part, has been reassuring: There is no pattern of evidence to suggest that HIV worsens COVID-19 risk or outcomes, particularly among people on antiretroviral treatment with a suppressed viral load. But...there’s a separate, concerning pattern that’s potentially emerging regarding the indirect effects of COVID-19 on the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV." Click on the link to find out what those other concerns could be. https://www.thebodypro.com//week-hiv-research-coronavirus-

"But the reason why so many of us admire Timothy Ray Brown is not just because he was cured of HIV. Yes, this procedure required bravery and strength, which he so valiantly demonstrated... He became the face of HIV cure research, and the ambassador we needed to inspire researchers, funders and people living with HIV." http://blog.catie.ca//celebrating-timothy-ray-brown-the-b/

Did you know that Northreach provides a variety of condoms for free? We supply external (male) condoms, internal (female) condoms, flavoured condoms, latex-free condoms, glow-in-the-dark condoms, studded and ribbed condoms, and extra large condoms. We even supply free dental dams and lubricant! Why are condoms important? Condoms are the only birth control method that can protect you from sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV. Condoms ...can be used for vaginal, anal, and even oral sex. Condoms can also help prevent pregnancy. Combining condoms with other forms of birth control, such as the pill, IUDs, or an injection, increases your protection. Stay safe! For more information about condoms and how to use them, check out our website! www.northreach.ca

This looks like it will be a great group. Check it out!

Happy #InternationalPronounsDay!

Do you have bottles you want to donate this month? Our LGBTQ+ youth group is the recipient of the bottle donation program this month at Recycle Plus I and II Bottle Depots!

"We can all work towards eliminating this kind of stigma by creating a climate of empathy towards people who use drugs and by using non-stigmatizing language and encouraging the use of non-stigmatizing images in the media and elsewhere. We can start to discuss substance use more openly and from a place of evidence, rather than moral conviction. And we can be more inclusive to those who use substances and genuinely learn and empathize with their situations and lives."

This short video features six Canadians living with HIV who describe how HIV treatment has changed in the past 30 years. Treatment used to be much more difficult in terms of the amount of medication taken and side effects. Modern HIV treatment is much easier to take with few people experiencing side effects. https://youtu.be/nI0g501b7fo

It's Dignity Drive time again! Drop off NEW socks and underwear at Revolution Place to help clients of Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Northwest, Saint Lawrence Centre, Rotary House, and our clients at Northreach Society! Thank you Rotaract Grande Prairie and Rotary Clubs of GP for organizing this drive!

Never assume; get tested and know for sure! *While this is an American article, there are also many ways to cover treatment costs in Canada as well* https://www.hepmag.com/blog/danger-assuming-hepatitis-c

Stay Safe Grande Prairie - grab a naloxone kit, use with someone, or use at our Supervised Consumption Site.

We have been selected for the Bottle Donation Program at Recycle Plus I and II Bottle Depots! The proceeds from this program will go towards our LGBTQ+ Youth Program. Head over to LGBTQ Youth Grande Prairie to learn more about where the donations will go! Thank you Recycle Plus I and II Bottle Depots, Aquatera Utilities Inc., and those who will donate!

New social media campaign related to U=U! We love this new one https://www.thebody.com/article/i-can-give-u-campaign

Syphilis is still a serious concern and there is no evidence to suggest that a long-term decline is underway. https://edmontonjournal.com//six-still-births-in-first-six

Today we wear orange to remember and honor Indigenous people who were, and still are impacted by Residential Schools. https://www.orangeshirtday.org/ #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters

Today's event and bench unveiling for Orange Shirt Day

Have you heard about the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act? If not, swipe through to learn more! #overdoseawareness #overdoseact #harmreduction #northreach