Today (Wednesday) marks International Overdose Awareness Day which is a campaign to reduce the stigma of drug use and raise awareness.
B.C. has lost more than 10,000 people to illicit drugs since 2016 and so far, in the first six months of this year, at least 1,095 lives have been lost, including 35 in Prince George.
This is according to data released by the BC Coroners Service.
In P.G. there was an event, organized by Moms Stop the Harm, at Veterans Plaza to acknowledge the importance of the subject.
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. The day aims to end overdose, remember those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the ones left behind.
An event is taking place at Veteran’s Plaza this afternoon. #CityofPG #IOAD2022
Learn more https://t.co/YPRQ83tFIz pic.twitter.com/Ot64rPKAsA
— City of Prince George (@CityofPG) August 31, 2022
Inter-professional Team Lead for the Smithers Care Clinic Bart Newman said that a big part of International Overdose Awareness day is grief.
“I think it [International Overdose Awareness Day] provides us with the resolve to continue to try to get the message out about how to use more safely and so I think in some ways it makes us feel that we need to continue the work of informing people on how to prevent overdoses,” he said.
Newman added that it is important that education is provided on recognizing what an overdose looks like and how to prevent overdoses.
“I really hope that we can get the word out and educate people and that overtime when we have this day come up each year we’re feeling like we can move forward and we’re making progress,” he said.
Additionally, Newman also said if anyone is using alone to use the Lifeguard or Be Safe app and learn how to administer Naloxone.
This is the 21st year that International Awareness Day is being recognized.