August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a day meant for people to come together and recognize the heavy toll of the world's drug toxicity crisis.
IOAD is meant to end the stigma surrounding drug use, assist those battling addiction, acknowledge the need for collective action, and support people who are grieving.
Chatham-Kent (CK) saw more than 50 families lose loved ones to preventable overdoses in 2024. That's nearly twice as many fatal overdoses as the provincial average.
The Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, in partnership with many community organizations, including Reach Out Chatham-Kent (R.O.C.K.), and people with lived experience, has created the CK Community Drug Strategy to focus local efforts on reducing the number of preventable overdoses in the community.
The strategy includes:
• Working to expand both harm reduction and local treatment services
• Strengthening prevention and education
• Building opportunities for community inclusion and promoting safety
• Addressing stigma and misinformation that keep people from accessing care
According to the health team, another key way people can help prevent overdoses is by carrying a Naloxone kit. They're available for free at participating pharmacies, CK Public Health, R.O.C.K., and several other partnering community agencies.
Naloxone is a safe medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are several places you can go for help, including:
• Connex Ontario: free 24/7 access to mental health, addiction, and gambling information https://connexontario.ca/
• Hope for Wellness Helpline: 24/7 online and phone support for Indigenous peoples across Canada https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
• Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team: https://www.ckoht.ca/for-community-members/