International Overdose Awareness Day Held to Reduce Stigma and Mourn Those Lost From Drug Addiction

Moms Stop The Harm Peterborough held an International Overdose Awareness Day memorial service honouring those lost at the Silver Bean Café in Millennium Park on Friday afternoon.

Kelly Whetung looks over her late son Joey who passed away from drug poisoning in Dec. 21, 2017. The event had a photographic mural and white crosses in purple decor to honour those fallen to drug addiction. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The day coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day that is held every year on Aug. 31.

The global event is to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief of families and friends suffering from losing a loved one or a victim of injury as a result of a drug overdose.

During the event, stories of how speakers’ loved ones were lost or affected by drug addiction, claiming that there should not be a stigma for it and no judgment should be passed for those suffering.

Between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2022, Peterborough paramedics responded to 234 suspected opioid-related 911 calls and drugs were responsible for 343 emergency department visits according to Peterborough Public Health (PPH).

“I think the crisis requires a continuum of response and massive investment. We look at how we respond to other societal crises including the COVID-19 pandemic and it requires an all-of-society, massive investment on many interventions and solutions.” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH medical officer of health.

Of that same span last year, there were 182 calls, and 232 ER visits but an increase of 43 deaths.

“We need support to address the toxic supply of drugs on the streets. We need support to prevent substance use in the first place. We know that trauma and social determinants of health are the drivers of why many people end up using drugs or have a substance use disorder,” Piggott continued. “We need access to treatment in this community. People that want treatment still can't get access, that needs to improve. We also need to keep people alive and harm reduction responses are trying to do that. People may not be ready for help today or tomorrow but they need they need help to stay alive.”

PPH offered quick sessions on administering aid with a naloxone kit at the event and gave them out for free. Piggott says that carrying naloxone is even easier than learning basic first aid and CPR and this information can be life-saving.

“In five or ten minutes, we can safely train people on how to administer it,” he said. “I think if you are around people who use drugs, if you are in an area of the city where you may see and find somebody who needs help, this is an easy way to learn a little bit more about how you can save a life so I encourage people to carry naloxone.”

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