Up against overdose
Awareness day: City police station flags lowered to remember those lost to drugs, alcohol
Everyone has a role in battling the stigma that can be even more damaging to addicts than drugs themselves, the medical officer of health said as city police hosted an event to mark International Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday.
Directing judgements and negative attitudes towards those suffering from addiction only perpetuate fear and avoidance, and as a result, poorer outcomes for them, said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra of Peterborough Public Health.
“That cycle just repeats itself,” she said as emergency service representatives and community partners gathered for a second year to mark the day with a ceremonial lowering of the flags at city police headquarters.
The day, held annually on Aug. 31, was established to commemorate loved ones who have died from overdoses related to alcohol and other drugs.
Over the past year, there have been several local efforts aiming to increase the availability of naloxone, a lifesaving antidote to an opioid overdoes.
Thursday was no exception, with take-home naloxone kits offered at pop-up locations at the Silver Bean Cafe in Millennium Park, Peterborough Square and One Roof Community Diner.
The Peterborough Overdose Prevention Program distributes the kits through the health unit, Peterborough Aids Resource Network and the FourCAST addictions treament program. More than 135 kits have been distributed between January and June of this year, officials said.
The current “epidemic” of overdoses involves patients who began with one prescription. Salvaterra said.
The key is to continue to build on the community’s collaborative efforts to assist and as part of that, all citizens must recognize they have a role, she said. “It starts with offering everyone the compassion and respect that they deserve.”
The statistics – such as that the city has the fourth highest rate of opioid deaths in the province – are important, Salvaterra said, but she pointed out that people are at the heart of them, asking that those lost be remembered with compassion.
“It’s not easy losing someone you care about ... because life is so precious.”
Partners gathered Thursday out of tragedy, but there is a bright future, Peterborough County/City Paramedics Chief Randy Mellow said.
Local paramedics have responded to 175 overdoses so far in 2017 and, as a last resort, administered naloxone 24 times.
The issue is not one that can be ignored, city police Chief Murray Rodd said, pointing out how the city was among the first where community partners collaborated to create a drug strategy.
“Any opportunity to put focus on the issue and prevent deaths in our community ... is what we are trying to achieve,” he told those gathered.
Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson pointed out that according to a recent report, half of overdoses happen in front of other people. In half of those cases, those other people do not call 911 – but thanks to education efforts, that statistic is improving.
“For us, it’s about the preservation of life,” he said, adding how proud he is of the efforts that have been underway since 2008. “We want to continue working on a strategy that makes things better.”
NOTE: For more information, visit www.overdoseday.com or www.peterboroughdrugstrategy.com.