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.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

International Overdose Awareness Day Memorial Event Commemorates Addicts; Bring Awareness and Reduce Stigma Of Addiction

An International Overdose Awareness Day memorial service honouring those lost to drug overdose was held by Moms Stop The Harm Peterborough at the Silver Bean Café on Wednesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

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.

Between January 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).

“The drug poisoning crisis is taking a significant and unacceptable toll on Peterborough’s region and community members,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH medical officer of health. Drug poisonings are a public health issue. We know we need to do more to prevent further harms and deaths.”

This year, 31 people are suspected to have died as a result of drug poisonings with five of these deaths happening over a 10-day period this month according to the same report.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

International Overdose Awareness Day Memorial Event Held At The Silver Bean

A memorial service to honour those lost to drug overdose was held at the Silver Bean Cafe on Tuesday.

White crosses set up at the event to honour those lost to overdose.

The event was hosted by Gail Perry, a member of Moms Stop The Harm, an organization of people impacted by substance use related harm or death.

Perry lost her daughter Jody Smith to complications related to opioid use three years ago.

“I’m not ashamed of how my daughter lost her life,” Parry said. “I’m ashamed of how people pick and choose which life has value.”

Parry says her daughter was mistreated during hospital visits because of her opioid use, which ultimately lead to her death.

“Stigma is deadly,” she said. “It is a killer. It creates dangerous and narrow minded attitudes towards those who need help and understanding. It shames and keeps people silent, alone and in hiding. Stigma interferes with getting the right kind of support and medical attention.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Peterborough Police Service (@peterboroughpolice)

Tuesdays event hosted members from local harm reduction offices like PARN, The Elizabeth Fry Society and Fourcast.

The Elizabeth Fry Society provided on-site Narcan kits and training.

“Narcan is a way to help preventable deaths,” said Abby from The Elizabeth Fry Society. “It’s a way to practice empathy, it’s a way to help support people that are struggling in our community that are being stigmatized and demonized by societal expectations that we’ve been fed our entire lives.”

A Narcan kit includes two doses of Naloxone, a nasal spray that is used to reverse overdoses in an emergency situation.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

BREAKING: There Have Been 3 Deaths To Suspected Illicit Drug Related Accidental Overdoses In Past 48 Hours

The Peterborough released put out a special media release Saturday (April 7th) notifying the public that over the past 48 hours, there have been three unrelated deaths from suspected illicit drug related accidental overdoses. 
 
The Peterborough Police Service would like to remind the public of the risks of using drugs, particularly opioids. City and area residents need to be warned about the potential dangers when using illicit substances, especially when it is unknown what may be mixed with them or their potential strength. 

It has been reported across Canada that Fentanyl has been mixed with many illicit drugs. Fentanyl is a synthetic, short-acting analgesic and sedative.
 
If an individual is going to use a drug, police say in the release, it is suggested that they consider doing so in the presence of another person for safety and that there is Naloxone present. 

Naloxone is an opioid antidote that can reverse an overdose. Naloxone, once administered, can last for approximately 20 minutes to one hour depending on the strength of the opioid. This allows an individual that may have overdosed to be treated medically.

Naloxone is available free of charge from numerous pharmacies, The Health Unit at 185 King Street and from PARN at 159 King Street.
 
If you suspect someone has overdosed on drugs, it is of utmost importance that you call 911 immediately for medical assistance.
 
For more information relating to opiates and Naloxone, visit peterboroughdrugstrategy.com.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.