The Grey Bruce Health Unit is marking Overdose Awareness Month after issuing two opioid overdose alerts over the past two weeks.
2019 saw 16 opioid overdose fatalities for Grey and Bruce Counties, and so far this year there have been at least nine fatal overdoses (unconfirmed) since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Grey and Bruce. There were four non-fatal overdoses over the Civic long weekend alone.
Harm Reduction Manager Ian Reich said a dedicated page on the health unit website highlights stories of courage, hope, loss, and despair. He says it paints a clear picture of the challenges associated with Substance Use disorders and accidental overdose.
“It is rather ironic and painful that we are starting off Overdose Awareness month with so much hurt and loss,” said Reich. “Our goal for August is to ensure that we spread messages directly from the source – from people that have experience with substance use, and its associated harms. We must always remember that this illness can afflict anyone, at any time, and we need to make sure that the general population understands that addiction does not care who you are – it can affect anyone at any time.”
People can find out more at https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Harm-Reduction/Our-Journeys.
