Profan 2.0 Training program – Coping with opioid overdoses – provincial fall-winter tour 2020-2021

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

PROFAN 2.0 Training Program – Coping with Opioid Overdoses Provincial Fall-Winter Tour 2020-2021

Montreal, September 17, 2020 – Méta d’Âme (Peer Association for People Who Use or Have Used Opioids) and l’Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec (AIDQ) are proud to announce the upcoming PROFAN 2.0 [Preventing and Reducing Overdoses | Training and Accessing Naloxone] provincial Training Tour.

Faced with the many impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, people who use or have used substances are more at risk of overdose than ever before. In this context, the organizers of the PROFAN 2.0 training program have decided to resume their face-to-face training activities by applying the recommendations of the Quebec public health authorities. The implementation of a health strategy will ensure a safe and enjoyable learning environment for everyone. A document detailing specific measures and instructions will be emailed to the participants upon confirmation of their
registration, and will be handed out again on the training day.

Therefore, from October 5, 2020 to March 18, 2021, the PROFAN 2.0 program will be deployed in 16 health regions in Quebec, offering one-day training for people involved in the community sector, and for users of their services, their families and friends who are likely to be confronted with opioid overdose situations and wish to acquire the means to respond. Of course, the training offer could be reviewed in the light of the changing health context.

The objective of this training program, which has been offered to nearly 1,150 participants to date, is knowledge transfer and the acquisition of best practices to prevent and manage opioid overdose situations. This is for a specific purpose: saving lives.

It should be noted that the PROFAN 2.0 Coping with Opioid Overdoses training courses are offered free of charge by Méta d’Âme and AIDQ to the entire province thanks to the support of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS). These training courses are also available in French and in an adapted version for Indigenous realities.

Community groups and organizations in Quebec who wish to offer theses training courses to their team members or to the people they serve can:
– REGISTER by completing one of two forms available online at aidq.org/profan
– CONTACT 514 910-1880 for more information or email profan@aidq.org
– PROMOTE the program through the promotional toolkit available online at aidq.org/profan

Méta d’Âme is a peer association for people who use or have used opioids whose fundamental principles are based on empowerment.

Acting through the harm reduction approach, its goal is to promote improved health for these individuals and to represent their interests as their advocate. The day center and the 43 apartments located in Montreal offer services and activities mainly aimed at enhancing their autonomy and supporting them in steps related to their social and economic reintegration, leading to the improvement of all aspects of their living conditions.

The following services are offered: day center, support, community housing, advocacy, information and referrals, various representations, training and workshops.

The Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec (AIDQ) is a non-profit organization that includes stakeholders from all sectors interested in the field of addictions in Quebec, such as the public, private and community sectors, public health and social services, education, universities, research, public safety and the
workplace.

The Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec’s mission is to promote and support intervention in the areas of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and the social reintegration of people with addictions and those at risk of becoming addicted, through skills development, information, collaboration and the sharing of expertise.

The AIDQ was founded in December 2015, following the merger of the Association des intervenants en toxicomanie du Québec and the Association des centres de réadaptation en dépendance du Québec.

Contact:

Méta d’Âme
2250, rue Florian, Montréal (Québec) H2K 2P5
Tel.: 514 528-9000
Email: administration@metadame.org
Website: metadame.org

Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec
(AIDQ)
1001 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Suite 420, Montréal,
Quebec H3A 3C8
Tel.: 514 287-9625 Toll-free: 1-877-566-9625
Email: info@aidq.org Website: aidq.org

PROFAN 2.0
Tel. 514 910-1880
Email: profan@aidq.org
Website: aidq.org/profan