Harm Reduction Guide

Harm Reduction is an Umbrella term for policies and practices focused on reducing the problematic effects of alcohol and other drug use.

During your time as a resident, you will live in a community with up to 1000 others. Residents will come with a range of experiences associated with alcohol and substance use. During this key transition period in your life, you may be exposed to experiences that you previously were not. Creating awareness about harm reduction can create a supportive environment for all. Our Residence Life Team aims to create a safe space to reduce the potential harms associated with these experiences.

Ontario college students believe that alcohol and other substances on campus are being used at a higher rate than they are actually used. Students believe that most students drink or use cannabis regularly, and engage in sexual activity with multiple partners. Actually:

• Almost 60% of students drank once a month or less
• Over 75% of students have not used cannabis in the last month, and 56% of these students have never tried cannabis
• Almost 80% of Canadian students have had 1 sexual partner or less

Knowing the Residence Community Living Standards (RCLS) and acting within them can minimize conduct-related issues associated with alcohol use. For example, not hosting drinking games, making sure all bottles are no larger than 750 mL, and not using single-serve glass bottles.

For additional tips on appropriate Cannabis storage in Residence, take a look at the Residence Cannabis Policy.

If you or a friend ever engage in activities that may contravene the RCLS, we are still here to support you. Whether it is an ‘in the moment’ need for paramedics and/or Security Services, or just a situation that gets out of hand,  we are still here to help. Yes, there may be actions we may have to discuss at a later date, but our priority is always the safety of our residents.

To get in touch with Residence Staff, dial 0 on your room phone or text our text line:  +1 613-900-2023.

For safety concerns or medical attention, call 911 or Algonquin College Security Services at 613-727-4723 ext. 5010 immediately.

Reduce your risks with these top 10 harm reduction tips from the Umbrella Project.

Reduce the risks of drinking too much or too often with these simple tips.

Reduce your risk of lung problems, mental health problems and legal issues that can result from cannabis use with these simple tips.

Due to the potentially addictive nature of cocaine and its cost, it’s important to know there are some tips to consider while using cocaine to help reduce your risk of harm and bad experiences.

MDMA is a mind-altering drug that can cause feelings of happiness and freedom. Use these tips to reduce your risk of experiencing problems when using MDMA.

Using hallucinogens is always risky because they are illegal drugs. You can never know for sure what you’re buying or using. Use these tips to reduce your risk of bad trips (scary and stressful experiences), injuries from falls or accidents, and mental health problems.