- Public Health Grey Bruce says August marks Overdose Awareness Month, and it comes amid an increase in fatal overdoses in the area.
A media release notes there have been two overdose alerts in the past two weeks.
Public Health says there have been at least nine fatal overdoses (unconfirmed) since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Grey and Bruce, and there were four overdoses (non-fatal) over the Civic long weekend alone.
According to their numbers, 2019 saw more overdose deaths than in recent years, with 16 deaths in Grey Bruce compared to 11 overdose deaths deaths in 2017 which previously had the highest number of fatalities.
The Health Unit says 2020 is shaping up to be another challenging year.
Public Health Harm Reduction manager Ian Reich says, “Our goal for August is to ensure that we spread messages directly from the source – from people that have experience with substance use, and its associated harms.”
Reich goes on to say, “We must always remember that this illness can afflict anyone, at any time, and we need to make sure that the general population understands that addiction does not care who you are – it can affect anyone at any time.”
Overdose Awareness Day is set to take place on Aug 31st.
Meanwhile, the Health Unit has a page on it’s website highlighting what it says are stories of courage, hope, loss and despair. Their goal is to paint a clear picture of the challenges associated with substance use disorders and accidental overdose.
The first story they are presenting can be found here:
https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Harm-Reduction/Our-Journeys
Public Health is also encouraging those who are interested in submitting a story to connect with Ian Reich at I.Reich@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
They’re interested in stories from anyone that has had an experience with a substance use disorder, has suffered an overdose, or has lost a loved one to an overdose. “The Health Unit would like to provide a platform to ensure that any story that needs to be heard can be.”
