International Overdose Awareness Day
PEERS Alliance will be hosting an event at Veterans Memorial Park, 89 Summer Street, in Summerside in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day.
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those who have died from an overdose, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
The theme this year, “Recognizing those people who go unseen,” is about acknowledging people in our communities who are affected by overdose but might go unseen in a crisis. This year’s campaign centers around those whose lives have been altered by overdose: the family and friends grieving the loss of a loved one, healthcare workers, first responders, people who use drugs, people in recovery, families and friends, librarians, waiters, cab drivers—people just like you and me.
August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). PEERS Alliance is honouring the day by offering an educational event. Staff and volunteers will be offering hands-on Naloxone training and demonstrations with fentanyl test strips, and these harm reduction materials will be available to community members free of charge and with no questions asked. This event is an opportunity to engage in conversations about substance use and overdose prevention and response. PEERS Alliance will also mark International Overdose Awareness Day by hosting an online educational campaign via social media leading up to IOAD.
This year, we want to take time to acknowledge all of the Peer Leaders and community volunteers in the rural areas of PEI that we have worked with over the past year. The Peer-led Rural Outreach Project has increased access to harm reduction materials and support in rural and small-town PEI. Through the Peer-led Rural Outreach project, people with lived and living experience of substance use participate in paid training opportunities and work directly with PEERS Alliance staff to disseminate information and materials within their personal networks and local communities. Engaging Peer-leaders in the development and delivery of harm reduction services has not only increased the availability of support, but by fostering communication, building trust, increasing knowledge, and reducing stigma, peer-led outreach efforts increase the quality of harm reduction services available locally.
According to the Chief Public Health Office of Prince Edward Island, overdoses related to fentanyl poisoning are on the rise, impacting those who consume street-sourced substances—including stimulants and opioids. In 2022, PEI reported 36 accidental opioid-related overdoses, nine involving fentanyl. Naloxone and Fentanyl test strip demonstrations will be taking place at Veterans Memorial Park, Trinity United Church, 89 Summer Street in Summerside from 10:00am-3:00pm (weather pending). This event is open to all community members; anyone interested in learning more about overdose prevention and response is encouraged to attend.
In the absence of meaningful drug policy reform, International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the important message that we can prevent overdose death, and other drug-related harms, by educating ourselves and making harm reduction tools and supports easily accessible.
We all love someone who uses drugs. We hope you will join us on Thursday, August 31st.
Event Details:
WHAT: Overdose Awareness Day Event
WHEN: Thursday, August 31st, 2023 @ 10am - 3pm
WHERE:Veterans Memorial Park at Trinity United Church, 89 Summer Street, Summerside
Rain Location and Time: Summerside Rotary Library, 57 Central Street Summerside PEI. Amalgamated Dairies Lmt Room #B04 from 10:00am-1:00pm
To find out more about International Overdose Awareness Day, visit: www.overdoseday.com
Media Contacts: Tessa Rogers (she/her), (902)388-6235, tessa@peersalliance.ca | Lauren Sheidow (she/her), (902) 388-5306, lauren@peersalliance.ca
