MOUNT FOREST – International Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31 and a Stop the Stigma rally will take place in Mount Forest on Aug. 24 to mark the sombre occasion.
People are invited to gather at the intersection of King and Main streets in Mount Forest from noon to 1pm.
The theme of this year’s event is: “Remember, Reflect and Heal.”
The lives of loved ones lost to drug overdoses will be remembered, the ongoing drug poisoning crisis will be reflected upon, and those gathered will work to heal from the toll of the loss to drug toxicity.
A joint Aug. 15 press release from the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy, ARCH Guelph, and the Rural Wellington Community Team states there will be speakers, activities to honour loved ones, information about local services, pizza served, and time for conversation.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the drug poisoning crisis is believed to have killed between 20 and 22 people across Canada each day.
“In Guelph, in 2022 year-to-date, we know of at least 12 fatal overdoses,” states the release, adding the number of the dead is expected to increase.
Emergency transports up
Within the county, the rate of emergency ambulance transports made by paramedics increased by 94 per cent between 2015 and 2020, according to the release.
“Until people who experience opioid addiction have access to regulated pharma-grade opioids, they encounter daily the ongoing risk of dying from poisoned substances obtained on the unregulated market,” states the release.
Those supporting a need for changes to present drug policies, and who want to show respect for those who have died as a result of bad policy, are invited to attend the Mount Forest event, and another event in Guelph, on Aug. 31 from 11:45am to 2pm at the Royal Bank Plaza.
More information available
For more info, visit: https://wgdrugstrategy.ca/overdose-awareness-day-stop-the-stigma-rally.
