Opioid overdoses claimed the lives of at least 2, 458 Canadians last year. Two people die every day in Ontario because of this issue. The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit and the Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council invite you to join us on Thursday, August 31st for International Overdose Awareness Day. A community memorial event will be taking place from 7:00pm-9:00pm at … Read More
Chlamydia Alert!
Chlamydia alert! Many cases of Chlamydia are being missed. If you are sexually active, take note. A pap test is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) test. A pap test checks for abnormal cervical cells only. You can ask for an STI swab to be done at the same time as your pap OR just pee in a bottle to … Read More
Gonorrhea, the new “superbug”
Gonorrhea has been on the rise in Canada. It is now being called a “superbug” because some cases are not responding to treatment. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that spreads through unprotected oral, genital, and anal sex. It spreads so easily because there are often no symptoms. If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious complications, like Pelvic … Read More
Legalization of Cannabis
Are you prepared to talk with your kids about cannabis use? Research shows that, on average, Canadian youth start using cannabis at 15 years old. Many people believe cannabis is harmless because it is “natural.” The truth is that cannabis can affect brain development up until age 25. This means it can cause long-term memory impairment, mental health problems, decreased … Read More
Consent Is As Simple As Making Tea
Consent for sexual activity (kissing, touching, oral sex, or intercourse) must be freely given and can be taken away at any time. That means you can change your mind during the activity, even if you have done these things with the same partner in the past. Consent cannot be given by someone who is drunk/high or has passed out, even … Read More
Bill 45 – Making Healthier Choices Act – Menu Labelling in Ontario
Now It Is Easier to Make Better Menu Choices Starting January 1st, 2017 you will notice new information listed beside standard menu items in some restaurants. The Healthy Menu Choices Act (Bill 45, Making Healthier Choices Act), aims to provide you with calorie information, which can help you make food and drink choices while dining out. What is menu labelling? … Read More
Is there a test in your future?
These days it seems that everyone is trying to make healthier choices in their lives. We are trying to increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables in our diet, adding daily physical activity and even improving our sleep routines. But what about our sexual health? Did you know that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are continuing to rise, such as chlamydia … Read More
The challenges of quitting smoking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVbVuNcR4pU If you’re trying to quit smoking it’s normal not to succeed on your first attempt. Did you know that more than half of current smokers intend to quit within the next six months and take an average of 30 attempts to successfully quit smoking? Unfortunately only 4-7% of the time, unassisted quit attempts are successful. The challenges of overcoming … Read More
Tap Water Vs Bottled Water
In 2013, Canadians drank 2.4 billiion litres of bottled water! 1 Bottled water has become a popular choice because it is healthy, calorie-free, and convenient! However, there has been much controversy over whether bottled water is better and safer than tap water. Let’s take a closer look at the facts… Your wallet Bottled Water: Can cost Canadians anywhere from $0.08 … Read More
Smoking in multi-unit housing
Imagine being excited to move into a new apartment and finally getting settled in only to realize that your new home has drifting second-hand smoke entering from a neighbor? What would you do? How would you feel? What if you had health challenges that got worse from this type of exposure on a frequent basis? Unfortunately, this type of living arrangement can … Read More
Breathe Easy this Summer
Did you know? Since January 1, 2015, it is illegal to smoke on all restaurant and bar patios, whether covered or not. Did you know? The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking tobacco in all enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places, as well as other designated places in Ontario, to protect workers and the public from the hazards of second-hand smoke. Did … Read More
Indoor Tanning
UV tanning beds have been placed into the highest cancer risk category, “carcinogenic to humans,” thereby ranking them equal to well-known carcinogens like asbestos and tobacco. The good news is, indoor tanning is an entirely preventable risk factor for skin cancer. The bad news is, young people are still doing it anyways. Skin Cancer Prevention Act – Effective May 1, … Read More