In conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, three events are scheduled for qathet region.
According to a media release from qathet Community Action Team (CAT), local communities are joining others around the world to remember those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to drug overdose.
Observed on August 31 every year, participants seek to create better understanding of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and create change that reduces harms associated with drug use. Community members are invited to the following events: noon to 2 pm, a lunch made with love at the Community Resource Centre; 3 to 6 pm, grand opening of ?aȷǐmɛt Harm Reduction Circle in Tishosem in Tla’amin Nation; 8 to 9 pm, a candlelight vigil and drumming circle on the grass at Willingdon Beach.
In 2021, despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, hundreds of awareness day events were held in at least 37 countries to raise awareness of one of the world’s most urgent public health crises.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s most recent world annual drug report, nearly half a million people around the world died as a result of drug use in 2019. Early statistics and anecdotal evidence for the 2021 calendar year show that the situation is becoming ever-more critical, exacerbated in many areas by the pandemic decreasing the tolerance of people who use drugs and disrupting both services and the drug supply chain.
Educational events
Rachel Driedger, youth CAT coordinator, stated that starting at noon, the Community Resource Centre will open to the public for a lunch made by a community member who has experienced great losses due to poor public drug policy. Announcements by SUSTAIN (Substance Users Society Teaching Advocacy Instead of Neglect) will be part of the gathering, as will live music performed by Tommy Sings.
“Our hope is to promote education and solidarity instead of stigma and isolation, and to celebrate those who are still here,” added Driedger.
According to Courtney Harrop, coordinator for ?aȷǐmɛt Harm Reduction Circle, this event will be the grand opening of the new program and space.
“We are hosting our event to coincide with International Overdose Awareness Day, and it will include our grand opening, an ‘honouring our loved ones’ ceremony and community barbecue,” stated Harrop. “We will also be participating in Moms Stop the Harm’s empty chair campaign. We will have guests from Moms Stop the Harm as well as the First Nations Health Authority.
“Mental health support will be provided onsite for those who need it, and we will have a resource and information table, including naloxone, set up about harm reduction and the toxic drug crisis.”
Monument coordinator Maggle Gisle stated that organizers are looking for family and friends of loved ones who have passed away from the toxic drug supply in the community.
“Let’s bring people together who want to make a memorial monument built with family and friends speaking about loved ones who passed away from fentanyl overdoses, recorded for others to hear.” stated Gisle. “We need a list of family and friends who have an interest in this project as soon as possible. We also need persons who can help create a monument where you push a button and hear a loved one’s story.”
Those wishing to help can email Gisle at maggygislemoon13@gmail.com.
“I am happy to be in the position to provide space to support the resilience and grief of those most affected by the overdose and toxic drug supply crisis,” stated Deagan Crawford, Community Resource Centre (CRC) coordinator. “I believe this is a time where we can come together as a community to honour the loss of friends and family as well as find ways to stand together in solidarity not just on this day, but everyday.
“I want the CRC to support community by promoting education, activism and awareness, and to move away from fear generated by stigma that feeds isolation and hopelessness for many folks in our community. I want every single person who enters the CRC to know they are loved, welcome, and that their presence on this earth is valuable and irreplaceable.”
