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Hello,
I’m writing to you today about something that has impacted many people in our communities and beyond for more than a decade.
Sunday, Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, a global campaign that brings communities together to take action on overdose. Events are taking place all over the world to honour lives lost to overdose, educate communities and explore evidence-based solutions to prevent overdose deaths.
As part of the campaign, the International Overdose Awareness Day organizers have created space on their website and social media pages to share tributes to loved ones who have been lost to this crisis. I read through them and took a moment to remember the people in my life who have also died from toxic drugs and overdose.
There’s a lot of polarization out there about how to handle this crisis — and a lot of research into evidence-based, lifesaving approaches — but one thing I think everyone can agree on is that those who have died from overdose were people first.
The tributes people share serve as a reminder that those who died have friends, family, peers and community members grieving their loss and doing their part to help prevent future losses, even just by talking about it.
The Discourse has done a lot of reporting on this crisis, and the common theme I’ve seen is that it takes a collective effort to find solutions that will save lives and support those who are struggling. It’s not easy work, and I’m inspired by the individuals and organizations in our communities who are doing it.
In this newsletter, you’ll find information about International Overdose Awareness Day events in the Comox Valley, Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley. You’ll also find links to resources — both community-specific and general — and some of The Discourse’s past coverage related to the toxic drug crisis.
To those who have been touched by this, I’m sending you love. 💜
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