International Overdose Awareness Day is being recognized today, August 31, 2021, across the globe and right here in Chatham-Kent.
The Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council have a number of memorial events planned in multiple locations across the community:
“In 2020, 6,214 apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred (approximately 17 deaths per day), of which 96% were accidental (unintentional),” Drug Awareness Council officials said on social media.
“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 5,148 apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred (April to December 2020), representing a 89% increase from the same time period in 2019 (2,722 deaths).”
International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crises, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.
The campaign acknowledges the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose.
International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.
The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:
– To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
– To include the greatest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events, and encourage non-denominational involvement.
– To give community members information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
– To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
– To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
– To provide basic information on the range of support services that are available.
– To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
– To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.
For more details about the Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council, visit there website, here: https://ckdac.ca/
– This story is sponsored content.
