R.O.C.K Missions is aiming to raise awareness of local opioid use impacts through a documentary screening that dives into the harsh reality of Canada's opioid crisis.
The local outreach program has partnered with the Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council to share the screening of Love in the Time of Fentanyl on Thursday, April 20 inside Studio One at the Chatham Cultural Centre.
Renee Geniole, who is the operations coordinator for R.O.C.K Missions, said while the event is to draw attention to the impacts of the opioid crisis, it will also kick off the launch of R.O.C.K's Peer-2-Peer program.
"The opioid crisis isn't just in bigger cities. It's everywhere and it's in Chatham-Kent," said Geniole. "We've lost people that we (R.O.C.K Missions) support because of opioid poisoning. Fentanyl is a real problem out there and we want to do what we can to try and save people."
The recently expanded peer program supports people experiencing homelessness or substance use issues. It operates weekly out of Chatham and provides people with low-barrier access to information, harm reduction supplies, community outreach, and support.
"Our purpose is to try and get the Naloxone out there and the education piece out there," said Geniole. "It's in our community and it's affecting a lot of people that we serve."
According to data in a previous report, Chatham-Kent experienced a 280 per cent increase in opioid-related emergency department visits and a 400 per cent increase in opioid-related deaths between 2016 and 2020.
The region saw its greatest increase in opioid-related events in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"A lot of the people we serve are using Fentanyl," said Geniole. "Not using substances anymore isn't as easy as just quitting. A lot of people need more support to move forward."
The documentary set to be screened takes a look beyond the stigma of people who use drugs and reveals the reality of those in a Vancouver neighbourhood often referred to as "ground zero" of the overdose crisis in Canada.
"The reality is that there are people in our community that need our support and services," said Geniole. "Our community needs to be behind them and be with them because everybody in our community is just as important as the next guy."
Tickets to the event can be purchased here.
Anyone interested in learning more about R.O.C.K Missions and the services available can do so by clicking here.
WARNING: This video has very graphic images and may be triggering to some.
https://vimeo.com/707817013
