Celebrating the end of the term safely

Congratulations, you made it! The end of the semester is a milestone that deserves recognition. There are so many ways to celebrate the end of the semester, from finding fun ways to get together, spending intentional time doing things you love, or taking some much needed time to rest. 

Here are some tips that can help you plan your celebrations, no matter how you choose to enjoy your time. 

If you plan on using substances...

Do your future self a favour and plan ahead

• Decide with friends on how you will get home before you go out (e.g., book an Uber or Taxi or arrange a designated driver who will not be drinking or using substances). 
• If you don’t feel comfortable anymore for any reason, pre-planning your ride home will also provide quick way to leave. 

Celebrate with people you trust

• If you plan on drinking alcohol or using substances, avoid taking them alone and try to be with someone or a group of people you trust. 
• If you do find yourself alone, Alberta’s free Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) app can summon emergency services to your location if you become unconscious. The DORS app also provides information on addiction recovery support services and helplines.

Make sure to eat and hydrate

• Have a well-balanced meal before you consume any substances, and don’t forget to snack throughout the night! Go slow and set limits on how much you plan on drinking or consuming in advance.

Pace yourself 

• Eat before, during, and after you consume substances.
• For every alcoholic drink, have one non-alcoholic drink such as water or soda so you can stay hydrated throughout the event 
• For other substances, start with a micro test dose and take your time in case the substance is not what you expected.
• Mixing substances can increase the potential for feeling effects that you don’t like or aren’t safe. Stick to one substance. Check out this infographic from CCSA for details.

Be aware of the signs of over-consumption and overdose symptoms

• Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, choking, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and skin colour or temperature changes.
• If you see a suspected opioid overdose on campus, call 9-1-1 and then call Campus Security at 403-220-5333. If you have naloxone available, use it. Campus security and first responders are trained to handle such situations and can also administer Naloxone—a safe antidote that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose

Additional resources 

Want to learn more about substance use and harm reduction? Here are some useful and educational links from reputable organizations across Canada.

Harm Reduction

• Harm Reduction Fundamentals | CATIE
• Harm Reduction Principles | National Harm Reduction Coalition

Alcohol

• Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health Quiz | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
• DrinkSense Alberta

Cannabis: 

• Test your knowledge | CannabisSense
• Get Sensible | Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy
• 10 Principles of Cannabis Harm Reduction (PDF)

Other substances and behaviours:

• Opioids | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA)
• Mental Illness & Addiction Index | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
• Gambling support | GameSense