Addictions, overdoses and why SCS is needed in Red Deer
It has been a whirlwind of activity for everyone at Turning Point through September, October and into November, so it has been awhile since I have been able to write this column. With so much time passed and so much activity since the last one I need to be mindful that nobody wants to read a novel here! I will touch a bit on Overdose Awareness Day and Leah’s Light Walk and Run. I will also provide a bit of an update on the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) that opened in Red Deer on October 1 and shed some light on our proposed Supervised Consumption Service (SCS).
Each year August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day. This year we were honored to work with Ashley Balan who planned an awareness walk and fundraiser in her sister Leah’s memory, with the proceeds coming to Turning Point. Leah’s Light raised over $10,000.00 with about 150 people coming out to walk with us! What a tremendous show of compassion and support for something that has impacted our community to its core. Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go out to Ashley and everyone who supported the event.
The day is also a solemn reminder that we are losing people to overdose at an unprecedented rate. With 1 in 5 people using illicit substances and with contaminated drugs everywhere, getting the facts out and raising awareness may be more important than ever.
In the age of social media one would think it is a good venue to get the word out, we all need to know the risks. We should never use drugs alone, and there are options available. Everyone needs to know that fentanyl is often found in cocaine and meth, or that you can overdose from not only injecting drugs but from snorting, smoking or ingesting them as well. There are research reports and program reviews that are shared showing how different programs and treatment options are working. Families share stories of the children they lost. People share their battles of trauma and recovery. One might think everyone would be informed, in the know and working towards evidence-based solutions for something that impacts us all. This, however, is not necessarily the case. For many it seems substance use has been simplified to include just a specific group of people and that this crisis is only for them to bear.